"We will know more Tuesday, but I would say they are both questionable," Brooks said.
Kentucky has just 287 yards rushing in three games and Little has 166 of that on 36 carries, an average of 4.6 yards per run. He is also UK's third leading receiver with six catches for 87 yards and he has averaged 23 yards on seven punt returns.
UK could use Keenan Burton, DeMoreo Ford or Dicky Lyons at to return punts. "We have choices, but we would rather not have to make them," Brooks said.
The coach also has options at tailback where 2004 starter Tony Dixon, who has 20 carries for 74 yards, and redshirt freshman Alfonso Smith will be available.
"We will just have to wait and see what happens," Brooks said.
If McCutchan can't play, Kentucky will use senior Trai Williams to replace him. Williams, a guard most of his career, played center some during spring practice and also took more snaps after backup center Jorge Gonzalez went out two weeks ago with a season-ending knee injury. That leaves former tight end-defensive end Eric Scott as UK's only backup at center for Williams if McCutchan cannot play.
"We are getting thin. Trai slid over (from guard) and did a really good job in the fourth quarter (against Ole Miss). But we are starting to run out of options. Obviously, this gives us great concern. We can't keep getting people hurt at the same position," Brooks said.
Brooks does expect to have junior tight end Jacob Tamme back at near full speed for his team's first Southeastern Conference road game. Tamme hurt his hamstring against Texas State Sept. 10 and played only 20 plays against Mississippi.
"We didn't throw him the ball. We worked a lot of no tight end sets early last week because we did not know if he was going to be ready. The good news is he did not aggravate it and it looks like he will be ready to go this week," Brooks said.
Defensive tackle Myron Pryor had an interception, two fumble recoveries and quarterback sack in the win over Ole Miss despite practicing only one day last week because of his turf toe injury. He had missed the previous game with the same injury but seemed fine Sunday.
I expect him to play quite a bit more at Florida. I think he will practice all this week," Brooks said.
Brooks says his defense will work on a number of fundamentals (hand placement by the linemen, pursuit angles). The Cats are last in the SEC in run defense at 208 yards per game. They gave up 205 yards to Mississippi, but Brooks noted that almost 50 yards came on when scramble by quarterback Brent Schaeffer and a play late in the half when UK was playing a prevent defense.
"Our run defense concerns me, but I still think we are a better run defense team than a year ago," Brooks said. "I am concerned about it, but I see us getting better and improving. This is going to be a test."
He said while Texas State's offense ran the option, but Florida quarterback Chris Leak will pitch the ball more. DeShawn Wynn ran for 104 yards on 22 carries in Florida's 21-20 victory over Tennessee Saturday.
"It's not only going to take a physical defensive effort, but it will take extreme discipline," Brooks said. "Our players have to know what to do and then they have to go out and play full speed doing it."
