Appleby Steps Into Role Once Occupied by His Idol

Austin Appleby directs the offense in Florida's win over North Texas. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

Appleby Steps Into Role Once Occupied by His Idol

Tuesday, September 20, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter

The former Purdue starter replaces the injured Luke Del Rio as Gators prepare for Tennessee.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – They woke up Monday morning in pursuit of new opportunities. One at UF, the other a 225-mile drive down the Florida Turnpike in Port St. Lucie.

Austin Appleby and Tim Tebow have at least a few things in common. Both can grow stylish beards. Both know what it's like to play for the Gators. And both were in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 8, 2007. That was the night Appleby, a native of North Canton, Ohio, watched his beloved Buckeyes lose 41-14 to Tebow's Gators in the BCS title game.

The experience transformed Appleby into a Florida fan.

"This 15 guy, he left an impact on me,'' Appleby said.

Tebow threw one pass in the game – a 1-yard touchdown toss to Andre Caldwell – and scored a rushing touchdown. Tebow's impression on the 13-year-old Appleby stuck and only grew over the years as Tebow's fame exploded and Appleby developed into a college prospect at Hoover High in his hometown, wearing No. 15 because of Tebow.

He signed with Purdue, where he played in 17 games and started 11 over four seasons before opting to transfer to Florida for his final year of eligibility. The Boilermakers were 6-30 in Appleby's final three seasons.

Ten months ago, in his final game for the Boilermakers, Appleby had the best game of his career statistically. He completed 36 of 57 passes for 332 yards, all career highs.

Final score: Indiana 52, Purdue 36.

"We can't let these things happen to us,'' Purdue coach Darrell Hazell said afterward, alluding to too many penalties, turnovers and defensive breakdowns. "We have to make sure we go back to work with the guys who are coming back."

Appleby had no plans to return. He asked for a release from his scholarship the very next day.

"I was just kind of scrambling," he said. "Blasted out emails and tried to contact as many coaches as I knew."

32791 — Gators quarterback Austin Appleby made 11 career starts at Purdue. (Photo: Jay Metz/For UAA Communications)

Appleby eventually made a connection with Florida and discovered there was a mutual interest. The Gators ended Jim McElwain's first season with a mess at quarterback following the midseason suspension of starter Will Grier. After a 6-0 start, the Gators split their final eight games with Treon Harris their only reasonable option, including losses to Florida State, Alabama and Michigan in the last three games.

Appleby took note, which made the Gators an intriguing destination.

"I saw the need there was for a quarterback," he said. "There were a lot of places where I had a lot of guarantees that you're going to be our man day one. We're handing you the keys,'' Appleby said. "There was never that guarantee here. I was told day one, 'hey, you're going to have to earn it.' It was just an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."

Tebow had as much to do with Appleby's interest in UF as anyone.

After becoming a Gators fan that night in Arizona, Appleby watched from afar as Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and led the Gators to another national title in 2008. He continued to follow Tebow's career closely throughout high school and college while Tebow tried to find a home in the NFL.

The way Tebow lived left an impression on Appleby, too.

"I've been modeling myself after him,'' Appleby said. "The more that I've learned about him, the more that I've wanted to be like him."

McElwain will take a Tebow-like performance from Appleby on Saturday at Neyland Stadium when the No. 19-ranked Gators (3-0, 1-0) face the No. 14 Volunteers (3-0). Tebow, after all, was 4-0 against Tennessee, winning once as a backup to Chris Leak and three times as Florida's starter.

Appleby will start for the injured Luke Del Rio, who suffered a left knee injury in the victory over North Texas. He completed 2 of 4 passes for 30 yards. He mostly handed off to a group of running backs that led the Gators on two scoring drives in the fourth quarter.

"The guy, he's played,'' McElwain said. "He's been in games. He knows how to prepare. He does some things differently [than Del Rio], so we're going to have to highlight some of those things."

Appleby quickly discovered the rabid nature of the Florida-Tennessee rivalry. While speculation on Sunday centered on Appleby starting for Del Rio in Knoxville, Vols fans had already established an internet account requesting funds for Appleby's funeral.

"They're having a little bit of fun. It's part of the rivalry,'' Appleby said. "I'd love to get my hands on the GoFundMe if it's NCAA approved. I can use it."

He is definitely not in the Big 10 anymore.

When the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Appleby crossed Florida's radar after last season, Del Rio was already on the roster and true freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask were on their way.

Still, McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier knew they needed more depth at the position and Appleby fit the bill.

"It was a good situation for us, knowing that really we had no proven commodity there at all,'' McElwain said.

Del Rio and Appleby competed in spring practice to be the starter and Del Rio's knowledge of the offense eventually won him the job after the battle continued into preseason camp.

The 23-year-old Appleby spent the majority of the summer in Gainesville trying to catch up on the playbook, which Del Rio learned a season ago as he sat out after transferring from Oregon State. Appleby finally gets his chance although not the way he would like.

Still, he isn't handing it back over.

"This team is counting on me,'' he said. "My job is to be ready. You come to the University of Florida to play. That's ultimately why I chose to come here. You don't ever want to be someone's caddie. You want to be the guy's that got the ball in his hand.

"Everything that happened at Purdue, in my opinion, the good, bad and indifferent, has prepared me for right now."

Back to Monday.

As Tebow made his professional baseball debut in the New York Mets organization, Appleby embarked on a different kind of opportunity. One Tebow was so good at: quarterback of the Gators.