Luke Del Rio will need surgery to repair a broken collarbone he suffered late in the second quarter on Saturday. Jim McElwain told reporters that the redshirt junior quarterback will have surgery on Monday, ending his season.
“I just feel horrible for him” said McElwain. “And yet the guys rallied behind Feleipe,
Del Rio was making his first start of the season and had completed 7-of-11 passes for 64 yards before the injury.
With Del Rio shelved for the season the Gators will turn back to Feleipe Franks, who earned the starting job before the season but had been replaced in two Florida’s first three games.
The quarterback dynamic will also change, with Malik Zaire moving into the backup role and freshman Kadarius Toney’s wildcat package expanding.
“Feleipe came in, took care of business. Thought he handled it well. Obviously that drive right before half was huge, and did a good job and we’ll be ready and we’ll get him and Malik ready to roll,” McElwain said of the quarterback situation now. “Obviously expanding the package with Kadarius bit by bit back there as well. That’ll be something that’ll continue as we look and just see how he handles it, in feeding it bit by bit as we move through the season.”