Luke Del Rio lost with a shoulder injury: Florida Gators football

The hits kept coming for the Florida Gators football team following their loss to Arkansas last Saturday. Jim McElwain announced that the Gators would be without four regular starters, including starting quarterback Luke Del Rio.

“Looking at myself in the mirror, we should have made a change at halftime,” said McElwain.

Del Rio was injured in the second quarter against Arkansas and McElwain thought about making a switch at quarterback but didn’t know the severity of the injury.

“He’s a tough guy. He will be out for a while there’s an MRI going on right now,” McElwain said Monday. “It’s bad when you can’t lift your duffle bag.”

With Del Rio out Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby will get the first team reps in practice this week. Appleby started two games this season when Del Rio went down with a knee injury. The Gators were 1-1 in those games. Appleby completed 42-of-67 (63%) of his pass attempts for three touchdowns and one interception.

McElwain will also look at his two freshmen quarterbacks Kyle Trask and Feleipe Franks. Both freshmen were early enrollees but have yet to play this season. McElwain simply said “we’ll find out” when asked how the two freshmen have shown progress in practice since arriving last spring.

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

4 COMMENTS

  1. Since we know he’s not playing now. Who do you start if you want to the east. I hear that since use has started playing bently recruits have now started wanting to visit. You thinking starting either freshman cld excite if they do well also I read where Zach on sec country said from what he saw n heard Frank’s has now overtaken trasks. Answer on here on mailbag for you either nick. Appreciate what you guys do. Keeps me informed.

    • I’ve also been told that Franks has improved leaps and bounds since he’s been on campus. As of Monday I still think Kyle Trask is the best option between the two freshmen right now.

  2. Do we think LDR can beat Michigan next year?

    Do we have a chance at nabbing one of the available transfer QBs?

    If the answer is no to both (I know what my answer is), then start the guy who will be the man next year. Not the one who may be marginally better than the other this year. If there is a clear gap this year, then go with the better one this year.