Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida head coach Jim McElwain officially declared starting quarterback Luke Del Rio out of Saturday's game at Tennessee.

"Obviously, we'll be going with a new quarterback,'' McElwain said.

McElwain did not offer a specific diagnosis for Del Rio other than to say "he's got a bum leg."

Several media outlets on Sunday afternoon reported Del Rio suffered a left-knee sprain and is expected to miss two to three weeks. Del Rio was hit at the knees on a low hit by North Texas defensive end Joshua Wheeler late in the third quarter of Florida's 32-0 win.

"I feel horrible for him, especially how it happened,'' McElwain said. "He'll be back sometime. He didn't have to go under the knife yet, so I take that as a positive."

While Del Rio's injury does not appear to be a season-ending one, it opens the door for Austin Appleby to make his first start for the Gators. McElwain also said it's a great opportunity for true freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask as they move up the depth chart and will take more meaningful reps at practice.

He did not say which young quarterback would be the first option should something happen to Appleby, a graduate transfer from Purdue who has 11 career starts.

"We'll work through that this week to see what gives us the best chance to be successful.'' McElwain said.