Iowa not thrilled to face former Boilermakers QB
Appleby played Hawkeyes three times with Purdue.
TAMPA — Florida quarterback Austin Appleby spoke a few weeks ago about his familiarity with Iowa, having played against the Hawkeyes while at Purdue.
On Wednesday, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz was asked about facing Appleby. Would experience provide any benefit in game-planning for the Outback Bowl?
“He played prett y well against us last year, quite frankly, so I’m not real enthus i a s t i c a bout s e e i ng hi m again,” Ferentz said. “It’s not like we’ve got a great memory from last year ’s game, unfortunately, so no.”
“We put that game plan in,” Gators coach Jim McElwain said, drawing laughs from the room.
Florida faces Iowa on Monday in Tampa. Game time is 1 p.m. on ABC.
Ferentz shouldn’t have too many regrets about last year’s Iowa-Purdue game. His team won 40-20 to improve to 11-0 at the time.
Appleby did play well, though. After taking over e a r l y f o r i n j u r e d P u r - due starter David Blough, Appleby was 23-of-40 passing for 259 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Thi s wil l be Appleby ’s fourth game against Iowa. He made his collegiate debut late in a lopsided loss to the Hawkeyes in 2013 and threw his first touchdown pass. Appleby saw limited action against them in 2014 and then had that nice performance in 2015.
“It’s prett y cool. (I) just ki nd of t a ke i t al l i n and remember where it started and where I am, and it’s pretty cool to come full circle against the Hawkeyes,” Appleby said Wednesday. “First touchdown, and hopefully I’ll have a couple to end on.”
I t i s c o i n c i d e n t a l t h a t Appleby would move more than 900 miles from Purdue, jump from the Big Ten to the SEC and still end his career against such a familiar foe.
It’s a small world, and that applies to the end of Appleby’s college football career in more ways than one.
M c E l w a i n r e f l e c t e d Wed n e s d ay o n h ow t h e G a t o r s i n i t i a l l y f o u n d Appleby as a graduate transfer last offseason.
“Kind of the way it worked out, some of the local guys know a guy that was our policeman, Pete the Cop, Florida vs. Iowa, 1 p.m. Monday, ABC
when I was at Louisville. His college roommate was Austin’s dad,” McElwain said. “Pete the Cop called and said, ‘Hey, do you need a quarterback? There’s a guy graduating.’ I said, ‘Yeah, come on.’ So credit Pete the Cop.”
Cornerbacks undecided: Star Gator cornerbacks Jalen “Teez” Tabor and Quincy Wilson reiterated this week that they won’t be making any official decisions on their football futures until after the Outback Bowl.
Both have been projected as first-round draft picks by ESPN analyst Todd McShay, who has Tabor slotted 16th in his latest “Top 32” and Wilson 25th.
Meanwhile, CBSSports. com/nfl/draft has Tabor projected as the 10th overall pick but doesn’t have Wilson as a first-round selection.
“I mean, it is what it is,” Tabor said. “I’m a prett y confident guy in my ability. I feel like I can play with anybody at any level. I feel like I’m one of the best at my position in pro, college, high school, whatever. I’m just perfecting my craft.”
Florida requested feedback from the NFL regarding draft grades or Tabor, Wilson and the Gators’ other draft-eligible players. The players have not seen that info yet.
“No, I haven’t done any of that yet. I’m just going with the flow right now, enjoying this process, enjoying this bowl game,” Tabor said. “It could be the last with my teammates, so I’m just soaking it all in.”
Both players have a year of eligibility remaining but are expected to move on to the NFL after terrific junior seasons. They combined for seven interceptions and two touchdown returns.