It’s been nearly three weeks since the Florida Gators made a statement in a 41-14 win over the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee. But some things that happened, or rather didn’t happen, in that game are still relevant with the Peach Bowl matchup against Michigan approaching.
After Emory Jones took over in the second half against Idaho the week before, a big concern leading up to the FSU game was whether Dan Mullen would let the freshman quarterback take some snaps against a big-time rival or hold out until the bowl game.
With Jones already playing in three games before that point, he could only remain eligible for a redshirt by sitting out one or the other.
In the end, it was not a difficult decision for Mullen to hold him out for the final regular season game.
Had Feleipe Franks gone down with a serious injury against the Seminoles, Jones would have played as he was still the backup quarterback. But with very few options left at the position, Mullen did not want to take the chance of giving Jones packages in that game and then end up needing to use him down the road.
Kyle Trask is still expected to be back from his ankle injury in time for the bowl and may return to his role as the backup to Franks, but other issues could always pop up with so much time between games, and that is not a risk the staff was willing to take if it didn’t need to.
“If he was going to play he going to play because there was an injury and he had to go in,” Mullen said. “Part of it was if it was a severe injury and he played a significant time against Florida State and was going to start the bowl game, it might be worth the year. If it was that type of experience in those big moments to have him play.”
Since Mullen held Jones out for the FSU game, that means he is now in the clear to play as much as the Gators want or need to use him.
There is no way of knowing what exactly that means yet, but he should at least get some packages against the Wolverines. The staff has had to shift most of its time and energy to recruiting with the early signing period right around the corner, so there hasn’t been much time to come up with a plan for Jones just yet.
As with many of Florida’s other young players, Jones has seen an increased workload in the bowl practices. The focus so far has mostly been geared toward the future beyond Michigan.
“He’s getting a lot of reps in practice right now,” Mullen said. “We haven’t set the game plan for what his role will be coming into the game. At the practices, he’s certainly getting a lot of reps and a lot of extra time. You’ll see out there today, getting him ready for the spring.”
Franks will finish out the season as Florida’s starter, but all signs are pointing to another quarterback competition looming in the spring.
Emory Jones will certainly be in the conversation when that time comes, along with Franks, Trask and possibly even incoming freshman Jalon Jones.
“I think it’s fun, to be honest with you,” Franks said of competitions. “It’s gonna make me better and it’s gonna make them better as well … Me playing at my best level is gonna help Kyle play at his best level and Emory at his best level and it just rotates. Same for me as well. Them playing high at their level is gonna help me play high at my level. If you’re asking me if I’m ready for a competition, I’m ready for it.”