Florida offensive tackle Martez Ivey to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Florida offensive tackle Martez Ivey, the prized recruit of coach Jim McElwain's first class, is sidelined indefinitely with a leg injury.

Coach Jim McElwain says Ivey will have arthroscopic surgery Friday to ''get that cleaned up.'' McElwain declined to reveal details about Ivey's injury.

It's a significant setback for the already-thin Gators. Widely regarded as the top offensive line recruit last year, Ivey likely would have started the Sept. 5 opener against New Mexico State.

McElwain says the injury is ''a preexisting thing that was kind of bothering him. We'll get that cleaned up. Have no idea exactly when his return will be.''

But McElwain says Ivey will be back: ''I don't know how quickly or anything yet. It doesn't appear to be a season-ending thing or anything like that.''