To say the 2016 season was a tough one for Florida QB Luke Del Rio would be an understatement.

The transfer from Oregon State had trouble staying healthy, battling through an injured shoulder and a sprained MCL in his knee.

Even when he was on the field, he wasn’t at 100 percent, which led to lackluster performances and weak throws. That caused Florida fans to call for a change at the position, often in mean-spirited ways on social media.

Del Rio told 247Sports that he heard those criticisms loud and clear, but said he probably shouldn’t even have been on the field at all with the severity of his injury:

“It’s funny they say I don’t have a strong arm,” Del Rio said. “I was playing with a Grade 3 AC joint sprain. Jimmy Garoppolo stopped playing with a Grade 1.

“Arkansas it got to the point where I couldn’t even lift my arm. So people didn’t really realize how hurt I was. I understand the frustration with my performance; I didn’t play well. But I was injured and probably shouldn’t have played that Arkansas game. I did.”

Heading into the 2017 season, Del Rio is the forgotten man in Florida’s quarterback battle. Most fans are excited to see Malik Zaire and Feleipe Franks compete for the job this summer, but Del Rio, if healthy, could throw his name into the mix, too.