Gators quarterback Emory Jones at practice on the fourth day of preseason camp on Monday. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
Camp Snapshot: Gators Quarterback Emory Jones
Monday, August 9, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Emory Jones arrived for his first press conference of preseason camp on Monday afternoon still sweating from practice.
"The hottest one yet,'' Jones said as he settled into a leather chair on the third floor of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to wait his turn. Of course, when you're the quarterback of the Florida Gators, the heat is always on.
A fourth-year junior, Jones is projected to take over as the starter in 2021 after waiting his turn for three seasons behind Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask.
The offense is certain to look different than it did a year ago when Trask rewrote the school-record books and became one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Still, Jones has played well in limited opportunities the past three seasons and has a skill-set that fits well in what head coach Dan Mullenlikes to do offensively.
In today's transfer-portal world, many players recruited as heavily as Jones out of Heard County (Ga.) High seek opportunities elsewhere instead of waiting and learning on the sideline. Jones took a road less traveled these days as Mullen's first quarterback signee at UF.
"I did not know it was going to take this long,'' Jones said Monday. "But I was getting better every day and developing, and that's all he preached to me and we're here now."
Quarterback Emory Jones has appeared in 24 games over the past three seasons for the Gators. (Photo: Anissa Dimilta/UAA Communications)
A CRITICAL COMPONENT: Trask threw for a school-record 4,283 yards and 43 touchdowns last season, leaving a gaping hole in the passing game. Jones is more of a threat to run than Trask ever was, but don't discount his arm. He has completed 55 of 86 passes for 613 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception over his career and opened eyes with his first pass in a Florida uniform: a deep spiral that resulted in a pass-interference penalty against Georgia in 2018. "I do remember that,'' Jones said. "I just remember telling Van [Jefferson] before the play, 'I'm about to move the safety, and if you run past him, I'm about to launch it.' I launched it. Everybody was excited about that."
THE BIG PICTURE: With Jones the projected starter, redshirt freshman Anthony Richardson moves into the role Jones filled a season ago – a change-of-pace option. Richardson and Jones are similar dual-threat quarterbacks with one exception: Richardson is 6-foot-4, 236 pounds; Jones checks in at 6-foot-2, 211 pounds. Where Jones has proven to be an elusive runner who knows how to avoid a big hit, Richardson is physical and strong enough to run through contact.
QUOTE OF NOTE: "He's got to go win the job still, but I think everybody looks at you as the guy who's going to be the guy. There's certain different levels of expectations for you within the good and the bad, and I think the maturing certainly helps him be able to handle that." – Mullen on Jones at the start of camp
IN THE HUDDLE: With Jones and Richardson expected to take most of the snaps, freshmen Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Jalen Kitna are the newcomers with an opportunity to learn and develop under the tutelage of Mullen and first-year quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee. If Jones struggles or is injured, Richardson saw limited action a year ago, his most notable contribution a 27-yard touchdown pass against Oklahoma in Florida's loss in the Cotton Bowl.
