Florida has somewhat of a quarterback void going into the 2016 season. Will Grier would be more than suitable to fill the role, however, he is still serving a suspension for a full calendar year after testing positive for banned substances.
After Grier was suspended, Treon Harris did not do much to show that he could handle the job until Grier comes back. Although so far in spring practice, Luke Del Rio seems to be showing he might have what it takes to keep the Gators afloat.
“I think one of the things that I love about him is he’s kind of a gym rat type of guy,” head coach Jim McElwain said, according to The Florida Times-Union. “You can tell he obviously grew up around the game. He’s a guy who enjoys watching film. He enjoys, around the guys. He’s does a great job as a leader. I think there’s a lot of intangibles there.”
If Del Rio’s name looks familiar, it might be because his father Jack Del Rio has been coaching in the NFL since 1997 and currently is head coach for the Oakland Raiders. The younger Del Rio has had quite a journey before landing in Gainesville before last season.
Starting his collegiate career at Alabama in 2013 as a walk-on, he redshirted his 2013 season. Del Rio then transferred to Oregon State before getting on the field for the Tide, but he once again pursued a transfer after playing just three games with the Beavers. That led him back to the SEC at Florida in 2015.
It’s still early, so there is plenty of time for things to change for better or worse at Florida.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
