Jack Miller named starting QB for Las Vegas Bowl game

Anthony Richardson declaring for the NFL draft, Jalen Kitna’s dismissal, and Jack Miller’s thumb injury have placed many question marks surrounding Florida’s QB room entering bowl season.

Billy Napier named Jack Miller the starting quarterback for the Florida Gators in the Las Vegas Bowl game against Oregon State on December 17th.

“Jack Miller, probably three, four, five weeks ago was cleared from the thumb injury,” Napier said in Thursday’s Bowl game press conference. “He’s back, he’s been able to take reps and certainly this week in particular he’s been able to take a bunch of reps. So, him, to go along with Kyle Engel, Max Brown, those three guys will take the majority of the reps today, tomorrow, and obviously when we get to the Oregon State prep.” 

Miller, the transfer QB from Ohio State, will see his first live game action since the 2021 season, where he completed 7/14 passes for 101 yards with the Buckeyes.

The third-year redshirt freshman entered the 2022 season as the Gators 2nd QB on the depth chart. A thumb injury kept Miller out for over half of the season, but Napier says that Miller is good to go.

“He has been participating in practice for a number of weeks, he’s perfectly healthy,” Napier said. “You got to remember Jack joined us back in the spring time, right so, he went through spring practice, and summer, and training camp as the number two. He was the number two for a little bit early in the year and then while he was rehabbing, we were very intentional about keeping those guys engaged. He’s traveled with us, he’s went through the process of prepping each week, watching cut ups, all the things at the end of the week from a test and tips standpoint. He’s been through the prep for a game, obviously the volume of work will be a little bit different for him. That will be the biggest challenge.”

Napier spoke highly of Miller during fall camp.

“Jack Miller also has done extremely well, very pleased with Jack,” Napier said before the season started.

“We are executing, Jack is very capable,” Napier said. “I will say this going all the way back to spring, he’s moved our team. I know the spring game he threw a couple of interceptions and all that, but he’s consistently made the right decision, he’s very capable, he’s got arm talent, he’s accurate, and he’s a good athlete. I think we made a really good decision there.”

Napier told the media that Anthony Richardson and Jack Miller were the two QB’s capable of playing winning football to start the season.

“Overall, I think we got two players that can play winning football, and I think we’re working hard on getting a third one ready,” Napier said during fall camp.

The third Napier mentions is in reference to Jalen Kitna, who surpassed Miller on the depth chart this season.

With Miller fully healthy, he’ll look to show why he was QB2 on the depth chart to start the year.

 

 

 

 

Nick Marcinko
Nick is a recent graduate from the University of Florida with a degree in Telecommunications. He is passionate about all sports but specifically baseball and football. Nick interned at Inside the Gators and worked part time with Knights247 before joining the Gator Country family. Nick enjoys spending his free time golfing and at the beach.