Quarterback Jake Allen listens to head coach Dan Mullen provide instruction during spring camp. (Photo: Carly Mackler/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Allen to Transfer, Coach Spurrier, More Gators Tidbits
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 | General, Scott Carter
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Allen announces he plans to transfer for a better fit.
While redshirt sophomore Feleipe Franks finished spring camp atop the depth chart as the only member of the group with game experience, redshirt sophomore Kyle Trask is healthy and appears ready to truly challenge for the job for the first time in his college career.
The battle for third gained clarity on Tuesday night when redshirt freshman Jake Allen announced on Twitter that he plans to transfer for a better opportunity that fits his skill set.
God bless. pic.twitter.com/wR5mXLS9l6
— Jake Allen (@JakeAllen_14) April 18, 2018
Allen's decision leaves true freshman Emory Jones alone in third on the depth chart.
Allen is a former standout at St. Thomas Aquinas High, where he won two state championships and committed to Florida his sophomore season. He joined the Gators last season and was buried on the depth chart in a group that included Franks, Trask, Luke Del Rio and Malik Zaire.
A traditional drop-back passer, the 6-foot-3, 199-pound Allen said in his tweet that part of his decision to seek a transfer is because first-year head coach Dan Mullen's spread offense is not a good fit for his skill set.
Allen played sparingly in Saturday's spring game, completing 4 of 7 passes for seven yards and rushing three times for 18 yards.
Allen never took a snap in a regular-season game at Florida. He will likely be best remembered by Gators fans for his early commitment to Florida and being a vocal booster for the program on social media long before he stepped foot on campus.
Best of luck to Allen as he seeks to find an opportunity he feels suits him better.
Meanwhile, let's take a look at some other stories of interest to Florida fans this morning:
-- The HBC was in Orlando on Tuesday evening to be introduced as the new head coach of the central Florida franchise in the Alliance of American Football. Steve Spurrier will continue to serve in his role as Gators ambassador, but starting in February he will take a break to return to the sideline. "I think my record says maybe I've got some ability to coach,'' Spurrier said Tuesday. "And I ought to use it." For more on Spurrier's outlook on his latest coaching gig, check out David Whitley's column for the Orlando Sentinel.
-- Gators third baseman Jonathan India extended his hitting streak to 24 games, matching the third-longest in school history, but UF stranded 13 runners in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to Jacksonville writes Kevin Brockway of The Gainesville Sun.
-- Former Gators defensive back Monty Grow, who later spent time in the NFL, was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Tuesday following his recent healthcare fraud conviction. Jay Weaver of The Miami Herald has more on the Grow story.
-- Another ex-Gators defensive back, Major Wright, is staying busy in retirement and has special memories of the 2008 Gators writes Alex Martin Smith of SECCountry.com.
-- Gators softball All-American pitcher Kelly Barnhill is pursuing gems beyond the field writes Mari Faiello of The Independent Florida Alligator.
-- The firing of head coach Jeff Hornacek could open the door for former #Gators standout Joakim Noah to return to the Knicks writes Howie Kussoy of The New York Post.
-- Gators third baseman Jonathan India extended his hitting streak to 24 games, matching the third-longest in school history, but UF stranded 13 runners in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to Jacksonville writes Kevin Brockway of The Gainesville Sun.
-- Former Gators defensive back Monty Grow, who later spent time in the NFL, was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Tuesday following his recent healthcare fraud conviction. Jay Weaver of The Miami Herald has more on the Grow story.
-- Another ex-Gators defensive back, Major Wright, is staying busy in retirement and has special memories of the 2008 Gators writes Alex Martin Smith of SECCountry.com.
-- Gators softball All-American pitcher Kelly Barnhill is pursuing gems beyond the field writes Mari Faiello of The Independent Florida Alligator.
-- The firing of head coach Jeff Hornacek could open the door for former #Gators standout Joakim Noah to return to the Knicks writes Howie Kussoy of The New York Post.
INSTAGRAM PHOTO OF DAY
As you can see, former UF infielder Dalton Guthrie, in his first season with the Lakewood (N.J.) Blueclaws of the South Atlantic League in Philadelphia's minor-league system, is not in Florida anymore ...
Gators Softball: Sunflower Saturday
Monday, May 04
Florida Lacrosse | Coach O'Leary and Theresa Bragg 4-30-26
Friday, May 01
Road to Gameday: Florida Football
Thursday, April 30
Ava Brown: Carwash Convos
Wednesday, April 29
