Gators quarterback Emory Jones runs onto Florida Field before the win over Florida State on Nov. 27. (Photo: Leslie White/UAA Communications)
Jones and Pierce: In Together, Out Together as Gators
Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
TAMPA — They grew up in Georgia and arrived at Florida as mid-year enrollees in January 2018, part of former coach Dan Mullen's first signing class.
Four years later, quarterback Emory Jones and running back Dameon Pierce are departing together in very different ways. Pierce, the bulldozer-tough senior who has scored a team-high 15 touchdowns, is a fan and media favorite.
Pierce's popularity soared when he charged up "The Swamp" on Senior Day with a helmet-less run in the victory over Florida State.
"I knew as soon as I did it, I was like, 'oh yeah, that's going viral,' " Pierce said following Tuesday's practice. "I'm gonna talk to [equipment] about getting me, like, six straps instead of four, to make sure that thing don't come off no more."
Jones' exit is more complicated.
The fourth-year junior told a pair of media outlets earlier this month that he plans to transfer after Thursday night's Gasparilla Bowl against UCF. While most expected Jones to choose that option with the arrival of new head coach Billy Napier, the timing of Jones' announcement raised some eyebrows.
Jones, after three seasons in the program, finally got his shot to start this season. Jones started every game except against Georgia, when he was replaced by redshirt freshman Anthony Richardson. Richardson's struggles against the Bulldogs and inability to stay healthy – he recently underwent knee surgery and is out for the Gasparilla Bowl – opened the door for Jones to reclaim the job.
Jones has thrown for 2,563 yards and completed 67.7 percent of his passes. He leads the Gators with 696 yards rushing. Overall, it's been a roller-coaster season for Jones, who has thrown for 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He accounted for a school-record 550 yards of total offense in a home win against Samford, but in the regular-season finale against FSU, was replaced by Richardson after throwing three interceptions.
Despite making his intentions to transfer public with a bowl game left on the schedule, Pierce expects nothing more than the usual from Jones.
"Emory's still going to be my brother and at the end of the day, Emory's still a Gator," Pierce said. "He is going to play his last game and he is going to lay it all on the line. Whatever football team he's playing for, he's going to lay it out on the line."
Jones waited behind Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask for three seasons before taking over as the starter in 2021. While he led the Gators to wins over Florida Atlantic and USF in the first two games, Jones quickly fell out of favor with the fan base because of Richardson's highlight-worthy exploits. Richardson scored on a 75-yard run against FAU and added an 80-yard scoring run and pair of touchdown passes against USF.
Gators quarterback Emory Jones, front, and tailback Dameon Pierce are set to play their final game for the Gators on Thursday night. (Photo: Leslie White/UAA Communications)
The backup-quarterback-is-the-most-popular-player-on-the-team storyline developed before Jones barely broke a sweat. Despite the way the season played out, Pierce praised his fellow Georgian for the way he handled a difficult situation.
Jones never complained, maintained a good relationship with Richardson, and did his best to make plays on the field.
"I've done seen him go through ups, I've done seen him go through downs, but I never seen him drop his chin,'' Pierce said. "I never seen him give up. He's going to fight. He's a fighter. He's definitely a fighter. It probably didn't go the way he wanted it to go, probably not the way he envisioned, but he's definitely a hard worker and he's never going to quit or give up on anybody.
"That's why I said you shouldn't have no worries about him giving it his all to this team, because that's just him. That's just built into him. That's just the type of guy he is. Like I say every time we talk about Emory, that's my dawg. It's going to stay that way."
Jones' future landing spot remains unclear, but with two years of eligibility remaining and a season as a starter in the Southeastern Conference, he is certain to find a new home after Thursday night.
UCF coach Gus Malzahn said the Knights must account for Jones at all times because of his versatility as a runner and passer.
"He throws the ball pretty well,'' Malzahn said. "You've gotta stop the run. That's a big challenge when a guy is such a good runner that you talk about trying get after him rushing the passer, it makes you slow down a little bit. We've got a lot of respect for him. They've got a real offense. It's one of the best offenses in all of college football, and it really starts with him."
Gators interim coach Greg Knox sounded a lot like Mullen when asked how Jones looked a practice on Tuesday.
"Some good, some things he missed a little bit, but just being back out there with the guys and throwing and catching, it was a good day," Knox said.
Whatever happens in Jones' final game for the Gators, his lasting legacy is that he waited his turn patiently, was a team player, made some good plays and some bad ones, and ultimately, represented the Gators in a positive way in an era when many players move on when they don't see the field right away.
"I think it's been a good impact," Knox said of Jones' career. "Again, he's had some highs and lows. But there's one thing we always tell the quarterbacks and we tell everybody this: You can't ever get too high and you can't ever get too low. As a quarterback, you got to stay in the middle."
As for Pierce, he has gained the majority of his 1,749 career rushing yards in the middle between the tackles. He has split carries with Malik Davis and Nay'Quan Wright the past two seasons and earned a reputation as a tough runner and good receiver. He has 44 catches in his career, five for scores.
The next step for Pierce after the the Gasparilla Bowl is to start training for the NFL Draft and make a statement at the next level the way he did at UF.
"Really just want to show, you know, just prove that I'm a great football player and a great person to go along with,'' Pierce said. "I'll fit in with any team. I'm dedicated to what I do, and if I don't know what I'm doing, I'm gonna try to figure it out. I'm just not one of the guys who sits around and just be lost. I just want to go out and be the best player I can be, the best version of myself I can be."
