Graduate transfer Austin Appleby stepped in for Del Rio on Saturday and will start in Florida’s rivalry game at Tennessee next week.
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UNT allowed 471 yards on the night after being on the field for 36 minutes, 13 seconds.
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack).
The Florida Gators are off to a 3-0 start to the season but they are going to have to overcome big obstacles to keep themselves unbeaten.
Florida Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio left Saturday’s game against the North Texas Mean Green after suffering a left knee injury.
In all, this was not entirely unexpected, but the check cleared and that’s why we play games like this.
University of North Texas defensive lineman Joshua Wheeler delivered the hit. Del Rio eventually left to the locker room on his own power and did not return for the remainder of the contest. On a drop-back pass, Del Rio was hit from behind near the knees by North Texas defensive end Devin O’Hara, who was flagged for a late hit on the play. “When you see something like that, you know, it’s my responsibility when their parents aren’t here to be their parents”. “I care about these kids”. “I told (North Texas coach Seth Littrell) after the game that I’m sure his guy was scrambling trying to make a play”. Ivey will not be suspended for the first half of next week’s game at No. 15 Tennessee.
“We’ve got Austin, and we’ll get both Feleipe [Franks] and [Kyle] Trask ready to go”, McElwain said. Florida is 9-1 against the spread in their last 10 road games, 10-4 against the spread against a team with a winning record, and 2-5 against the spread in their last 7 games.
Del Rio had just 186 yards passing, no touchdowns and an interception. Four backs combined for 250 yards of rushing (Appleby added five more at the end) and all four Gator touchdowns. “You don’t ever want to be somebody’s caddie”, Appleby said. You want to be the guy that’s got the ball in his hands. With the game not in doubt, a defender was actually kind of blocked into Del Rio on the play, but McElwain’s emotions got the better of him.
Ivey was named to the SEC All-Freshman team last season after playing in 12 games for the Gators.
Florida played without sophomore receiver Antonio Callaway, who missed the game because of bruised quadriceps. Jalen Hurd is Tennessee’s top rusher with 270 yards and 2 touchdowns and Josh Malone is the leading receiver with 9 and Preston Williams and Alvin Kamara each have 8 catches. He is expected to play against Tennessee.
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“He ran pretty good yesterday, so hopefully we’ll get him back”, McElwain. Florida is 3-0 and arguably looked more impressive than the Vols thus far.
