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Luke Del Rio Injury Update: Florida QB Targeting Return vs. LSU
Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio went down against North Texas with a leg injury on Saturday, and it will likely keep him out of the Gators' game against Tennessee. However, the redshirt sophomore is targeting the LSU game for his return.
September 18, 2016
Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio is targeting a return against the LSU Tigers on Oct. 8.
Florida fans were holding their breath when they saw redshirt sophomore quarterback Luke Del Rio go down in the third quarter of the Gators’ game against North Texas on Saturday.
Del Rio hobbled off the field with a sprained MCL in his left knee after being hit low by Mean Green linebacker Joshua Wheeler. He was replaced by Austin Appleby, who held down the fort in Florida’s 32-0 win.
Coach Jim McElwain made it clear after the game that he didn’t expect Del Rio to be ready for the team’s matchup with rival Tennessee in Knoxville this Saturday.
Del Rio, though, is hoping two weeks will be enough to recover. He’s targeting a return for Oct. 8 when Florida hosts LSU in The Swamp, according to Gridiron Now.
Appleby will likely get the start in Knoxville — even though true freshman Kyle Trask might be a better option for multiple reasons.
If the Gators can beat Tennessee and Vanderbilt, it will be back-to-back seasons that Florida took its undefeated record up against Les Miles’ Tigers, and the hope is Del Rio will be under center this time.
Will Grier had the Gators unbeaten before he was suspended right before the LSU game in 2015. Treon Harris spelled him and played well in Baton Rouge, but McElwain’s squad still went home with a loss.
Both Grier and Harris are gone, and yet, Florida is facing another potential quarterback nightmare with an important SEC matchup approaching. Del Rio hasn’t been elite, but he’s definitely been a big part of the offense having completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 762 yards and six touchdowns in three games.
