Inserted because the Florida Gators needed a spark against Kentucky, redshirt junior Luke Del Rio has found himself where he hoped to be when the season began — starting at quarterback.
Jim McElwain gave the veteran the nod this week against the Vanderbilt Commodores in part because of how Del Rio played and how the offense looked one he took over at Kentucky. It’s not hard to tell the difference in the offense with Del Rio under center. The unit moved quicker, more efficiently and there was seemingly a few pages of the offensive playbook that were uncovered when he came in.
McElwain insists the move to Del Rio has nothing to do with any deficiencies from former starter Feleipe Franks. Del Rio’s teammates, however, noticed a difference last week.
“Luke has been around this offense for a really long time, I think he knows it probably the best out of all those guys,” receiver Josh Hammond said. “Just his ability to help guys get lined up and play fast, and not have as many mental errors I think really helped us excel in the 4thquarter.”
The last two drives against Kentucky were really powered by Mail Davis and the Gators’ rushing attack but Del Rio is even helping out in the running game. His knowledge of the offense and protections has helped first-time starter T.J. McCoy.
“He did a really good job making the calls and communicating to me how things went,” McCoy said. “I feel like he kind of kept some of the young guys at bay, kind of calmed them down a little bit when we were in a tough game, a close game. It was really good to have him in there and keep us all together.”
It begs the question, if Del Rio, in just over a quarter of play, made this kind of impression on his coaches and his teammates, why wasn’t he starting in the first place?
Del Rio went 5-1 as the Gators starter last season with the lone loss coming on the road at Arkansas. Del Rio was so banged up that day that he showed up to his post game press conference with two huge icepacks on each shoulder and his knee wrapped in ice as well. He was and is a much better quarterback than he played while battling through injuries and he gives the Gators the best opportunity to win now.
“He’s more experienced,” Martez Ivey said. “He knows what he wants to do and knows what, just he’s got a better feel for it right now.”
Florida plays a Vanderbilt team that, a dismantling at the hands of Alabama aside, has played well this season. It’s also a Vanderbilt team that has taken Florida to the brink in each of the last two seasons. Derek Mason is one of, if not the best defensive minds in college football and his defense is a tall task for any quarterback. It’s probably another reason Del Rio will get the nod this week. Wednesday McElwain agreed that having Del Rio on the field is akin to having an extra coach out there.
Saturday he’ll get a chance to show that.