Florida bolsters quarterback position with this big-name transfer

The Gators score a solid win in the transfer portal.

It has been quite a transition from the Dan Mullen to the Billy Napier era in Gainesville over the past month, which has seen departures through the transfer portal as well as a major shake-up in Florida football’s recruitment. After an early signing day that many saw as a victory for the new regime, however, there were still plenty of holes remaining that needed to be addressed.

One area of concern for the Gators was at the quarterback position, which saw 2021 starting quarterback Emory Jones enter the transfer portal (though he will play in Thursday’s Gasparilla Bowl) as well as a decommitment from four-star recruit Nick Evers, who opted for the Oklahoma Sooners instead. Those moves left the Gators with three scholarship players at the position — all recent recruits from the past couple of years — as well as walk-on Luke Matthews, the son of Gator great Shane.

Florida filled the void on Tuesday when former Ohio State commit Jack Miller, a four-star in the 2020 recruiting class, committed to the Orange and Blue via the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 215-pound pro-style passer played in five games with OSU, completing 7 of 14 passes for 101 yards while rushing seven times for 22 yards and a score. Miller had competed for the starting quarterback job during the spring before ultimately losing out to CJ Stroud, who put up solid numbers in 2021.

While fan-favorite Anthony Richardson — who undoubtedly has a high ceiling in terms of athletic potential — will likely remain the favorite to take over the starting job in 2022, he now has Miller, along with 2021 prostyle quarterback recruits Carlos Del Rio (four-star) and Jalen Kitna (three-star) to contend with for the position. Hopefully, the cream rises to the top this spring as the four duke it out for the lead role in The Swamp.

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