Dan Mullen explains how he’ll use QBs Kyle Trask, Emory Jones moving forward
By SDS Staff
Published:
The Florida Gators escaped with a 29-21 win in Lexington Saturday night.
Starting quarterback Feleipe Franks was likely lost for the year, however. Although no confirmation, Franks is thought to have suffered a dislocated ankle, which would end his season.
Mullen called on Kyle Trask in Franks’ absence, and Trask delivered a terrific come-from-behind victory over Kentucky. Trask finished 9-of-13 for 126 yards and a rushing touchdown. He was confident and accurate with the football late in the game.
While Trask is more of a true passer, Mullen also has the dual-threat Emory Jones at his disposal, too. Jones could be a weapon on the ground, but Mullen stuck with Trask at Kentucky.
Why?
“Kyle was kind of hot,” Mullen said during his postgame press conference. “So, we kind of stuck with it. I had a couple of stuff to get Emory in, but we just kind of stuck with Kyle since he was rolling.”
Stuck is an interesting way to put it.
Mullen also wouldn’t actually name Trask the starting quarterback either.
“Honestly, we are going to play both guys moving forward,” Mullen said after the victory.
The Gators coach told ESPN following the game on the field that he prepares as if he has three starting quarterbacks, but he did rave about the job Trask did coming off the bench.
“I can’t tell you how hard it is to do what Kyle did,” Mullen said about Trask. “Not what he got on the field, we have seen that to prepare yourself.
“If you’re backup wide receiver, you can play 30 plays in a game. If you’re on the D-line you are going to rotate and play. If you’re a backup running back we are going to roll those guys through. If you’re in Kyle’s position, I’ve got to prepare, I have to be ready for everything they are going to do and then to (not) play. Then, I have to do that next week, and that’s hard to do. It’s a tribute to him of his mental toughness and preparedness to be ready for that opportunity.”
You can watch Mullen’s postgame presser here.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
