Relying on a backup quarterback for long stretches of the season is nothing new for Florida.
Backup quarterback Austin Appleby will make his third start in place of the injured Luke Del Rio this season when the Gators travel to LSU. That’s a Florida trend four years running, tweeted College Football Talk’s Bryan Fischer.
Interesting nugget: Florida has started its backup QB three times this season, something the Gators have done in every season since 2013.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) November 15, 2016
In 2013 and 2014, Jeff Driskel’s failure to hold down the starting spot forced coaches to use backup quarterbacks throughout the seasons. Last year, Will Grier was taking the conference by storm before getting a one-year suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, which thrust backup Treon Harris into action.
The Gators kept that streak alive this season thanks to Del Rio’s string of injuries, and it’s surely not a trend coach Jim McElwain wants to continue.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
