Del Rio to start for Gators against Vanderbilt

Luke Del Rio replaced Feleipe Franks in the third quarter of Saturday's win at Kentucky. (Photo: Kelly Streeter/UAA Communications)

Del Rio to start for Gators against Vanderbilt

Monday, September 25, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter

Florida's starting quarterback at the start of last season will make his first start of the season on Saturday.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Luke Del Rio has regained his job as Florida's starting quarterback.

Del Rio started six games a year ago before injuries cut his season short. Gators head coach Jim McElwain announced Monday that Del Rio will start on Saturday against Vanderbilt.

Del Rio replaced starter Feleipe Franks in the third quarter of Saturday's 28-27 win over Kentucky. A fourth-year redshirt junior, Del Rio hit 9 of 14 passes for 74 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Del Rio's 5-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Swain with 43 seconds left capped the Gators' comeback from a 27-14 fourth-quarter deficit.

"So moving forward to this week, Luke will take the starting reps in practice and yet the other two guys will still get their reps as well and we'll see where it goes kind of from there,'' McElwain said. "That should answer your quarterback question."

Del Rio won the starter's job in 2016 over Austin Appleby and the Gators went 5-1 in his six starts. However, Del Rio suffered a knee injury early in the season and a shoulder injury in a loss at Arkansas. Del Rio missed the rest of the season and had multiple surgeries in the offseason, including on each of his shoulders.

Finally healthy, Del Rio took over for Franks on Saturday and helped ignite Florida's offense in the come-from-behind win at Kentucky, extending Florida's winning streak against the Wildcats to 31.

"It really had nothing to do with Feleipe doing anything wrong,'' McElwain said. "We were kind of in a stall mode."

Franks won a quarterback battle in fall camp against Del Rio and Notre Dame graduate transfer Malik Zaire. He has started Florida's first three games and has completed 61.2 percent of his passes (30 of 49) for 372 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He was 7 of 12 for 85 yards against the Wildcats when McElwain opted to switch to Del Rio.

Del Rio threw for 1,358 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2016, his first extensive playing time as a starter in college.

"We needed a jumpstart. It was like, sometimes maybe not all cylinders were hitting, and yet I think he came in and gave us that boost,'' McElwain said. "One thing I will say, as disappointed as Feleipe was, he was also one of the most excited that we got the win. And Malik, the same way. Those were two guys that had smiles on winning the games and that speaks a lot for them."

The Gators rallied for 14 fourth-quarter points and outgained Kentucky 150-42 in the final 15 minutes. Once Del Rio took over, the offensive pace picked up and the unit began to develop a rhythm behind the running of freshman Malik Davis and Del Rio's efficient leadership.

"He was just telling us that we were going to win the game. He wasn't afraid of making a mistake,'' senior running back Brandon Powell said. "He got in, his [third] pass he threw an interception. He came to the sideline and was still telling us that we were going to win the game. That showed. He was getting the ball to his playmakers and was making plays for them."

"He's a vet. He's been here. He knows the offense. He knows where to go with the ball. It showed. He won us the game."