Quarterback Emory Jones has informed the UF coaches that he will enter the transfer portal, according to a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Jones previously announced his intention to enter the portal in December but never went through with it. Instead, he opted to stick around, and, after practice on Tuesday, he said that coach Billy Napier and his staff talked him out of leaving by showing him film and explaining why they can make him a better player.
Just three days later, he has apparently experienced another change of heart.
There were some great moments for Jones at Florida, such as when he was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after he became the first Gator since Tim Tebow to throw for more than 200 yards and run for more than 100 yards in the same game against Tennessee. He broke the school record with 550 total yards against Samford.
However, there were also plenty of low moments. He was benched in the second half against LSU after he threw his second interception. He momentarily lost his starting job to Anthony Richardson against Georgia but regained it the following week.
Jones threw three first-half interceptions against Florida State in the regular season finale and was benched a few plays into the second half. He returned to the starting role against UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl and went just 14-for-36 for 171 yards.
Jones ranks second all-time in UF history for rushing yards by a quarterback, and his 696 yards in 2021 were the third-most in a season.
Ultimately, though, Jones’ inability to consistently make smart decisions and take care of the ball — he threw 13 interceptions last season — derailed his Gators career.
He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
With Jones out of the picture, the Gators will have five scholarship quarterbacks on the roster this fall as things stand now: Richardson, Ohio State transfer Jack Miller, Jalen Kitna, Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and freshman Max Brown, who will arrive over the summer.