Luke Del Rio focusing on what he can control

He’s been described as a veteran presence by his teammates but Saturday night will be the first time Luke Del Rio starts a football game since his senior season at Valor Christian in Colorado.

“We kind of forget that this is his first go round,” Jim McElwain said of his quarterback. “It’s almost like we expect him to do things a little bit like a veteran in how he approaches it and the decisions we make, and yet we’ve got to be conscious of the fact that, I don’t care who you are, this is the first time being out there and being the leader of the Florida Gators. I think the big thing for him

Del Rio’s journey to this moment has been a long and winding road. He turned down a scholarship offer from Jim McElwain at Colorado State to walk on at Alabama. After a year in Tuscaloosa he saw the writing on the wall and transferred to Oregon State. The NCAA ruled that he was a “non-recruited player” at Alabama, granting him immediate eligibility with the Beavers. Del Rio played sparingly, attempting just 18 passes before a coaching change sent him packing again.

Del Rio petitioned the NCAA again in 2015, this time with less luck. The two-time transfer spent his third year in college as the starting scout team quarterback, a job that comes with far less fanfare, and certainty less media than Del Rio is now getting accustomed to as the starting quarterback.

“I’m going to play a little bit more,” Del Rio said with a smirk. “But really just excited for the opportunity. I’m not really focused on how I’m going to feel or what it’s going to be like. I’m just going to take that as it comes.”

McElwain appointed Del Rio the starting quarterback for the first game, the wording left ambiguous on purpose. The quarterback battle has been a hot topic all offseason and McElwain doesn’t want the other three quarterbacks in the room to stop fighting for the job, or preparing and practicing as if they were going to start. He believes that competition breeds excellence and didn’t want naming a starter to dull the competition. There have been benefits since Del Rio won out.

“There seems to be a real kind of settling in there as far as that voice in the huddle, which is a good thing,” McElwain said of Del Rio. “I think as time goes that’s one of those deals that you’ve got to continue to move forward with that leadership and that voice.”

Saturday night at 7:30 the Florida Gators will run out of the tunnel to take on the UMass Minutemen. Luke’s Father, Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio will be in the stands.

If Florida wins the coin toss McElwain will take the ball and send out his offense first.

It will be Luke Del Rio’s first start in college. He’s the voice that the defending SEC East champions will turn to and follow throughout the season. That voice may crack with excitement when the first play is signaled in and he shares it in the huddle. Del Rio doesn’t know what he’ll feel when he runs out of the tunnel on Saturday, he can’t control that, he’s focusing now on what he can control.

“There’s bigger things to worry about, such as the game plan. UMass has a very talented defense,” he said. “The coach uses a multiple scheme and they do a really good job with their players. I’m more focused on executing the game plan than anything.”

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC

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