Del Rio might be available Saturday
Luke Del Rio returned to Florida’s practice Wednesday for the first time since spraining his knee two weeks ago. He could be available as an emergency backup against Vanderbilt this weekend.
GAINESVILLE — UF quarterback Luke Del Rio returned to practice Wednesday and could serve as Austin Appleby’s emergency backup Saturday at Vanderbilt.
The key to Del Rio’s availability is how the sprained left knee suffered Sept. 17 against North Texas responds to practice, UF coach Jim McElwain said.
Del Rio participated in non-contact, individual drills wearing a left knee brace. Feleipe Franks served as the No. 2 quarterback Wednesday, handling more snaps than fellow first-year freshman Kyle Trask.
“We’ve got to see how the injury responds moving forward,” McElwain said. “Obviously he’d be a guy that we could put in there, hopefully, but we’ll see. If not, one of those guys [Franks or Trask] will be ready to go, and off we go.”
But UF’s ability to bounce back from a crushing 38-28 loss at Tennessee will come down to much more than quarterback play.
The biggest hurdle could be psychological for the Gators, including McElwain himself.
“What was interesting is, shoot, as much for me as anybody too,” he said. “I mean, it isn’t just the players, it's everybody in the organization. It happens. Knock it off. “So, it’s natural.” The Gators will move forward without a key defensive starter, tackle Joey Ivie. The senior underwent a procedure to repair a thumb injury sustained at Tennessee and will miss four to five weeks.
Ivie was amid his best season at UF, but redshirt sophomores Khairi Clark and Taven Bryan now will have expanded roles while little-used Luke Ancrum and Jachai Polite could be in line to play.
“The communication when you get new guys in there has got to be utmost,” McElwain said.
Meanwhile, starting cornerback Quincy Wilson will be available after suffering a minor leg injury at Tennessee. Starting guard Tyler Jordan has not resumed contact drills and is likely to miss his third game due to an eye injury.
Jordan will travel to Nashville.
McElwain said whoever is available and on the field for the No. 23 Gators (3-1, 1-1 SEC) will need to display a sense of urgency against the Commodores (2-2, 0-1).
“Whether you come off a win or come off a loss, that’s a constant,” he said. “Once you start to let that waiver, that’s when some of the things slip in that aren’t great.”
The Gators have not lost a Vanderbilt since 1998 and are 10-point favorites Saturday. But UF needed a 43-yard field goal during the final minutes at home to slip by Vanderbilt 9-7 last season and clinch the SEC East title.
“These guys, this is a good football team we’re playing,” McElwain said. “They’re good players. Look what they did to us last year.”
Powell available
Receiver Brandon Powell will not face an SEC suspension due to his fourth-quarter ejection at Tennessee.
Officials flagged Powell for a personal foul after he allegedly threw a punch at Vols’ safety Rashaan Gaulden. Replays showed Powell extended his arm toward Gaulden but did not make much contact.