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In any game, there are plays that don’t lead directly to big plays but still make a huge impact on the game itself. Here are those plays in Notre Dame’s road upset victory against Syracuse that propels the Irish to a 5-3 record and one step closer to bowl eligibility.
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The Gators’ quarterback room took a big hit with the loss of the Ohio State transfer.
According to Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Gators backup quarterback Jack Miller has undergone surgery for an injury suffered on his right thumb.
The injury does not seem to impact who will start against Utah in the Orange and Blue’s season opener but it is a massive blow to the quarterback room. [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] has been the consensus favorite to be the starter, and while Billy Napier and his staff have yet to officially name a starter, it was assumed that the redshirt sophomore would win the job over Miller.
Miller transferred to Gainesville from Ohio State in the offseason in an attempt to bolster a quarterback room that lacked experience. At the end of the Spring, Miller had established himself as the clear backup, beating out [autotag]Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Kitna[/autotag], both of whom were on the roster in 2021. Del Rio-Wilson transferred to Syracuse after spring camp while last year’s starter Emory Jones transferred to Arizona State in the offseason, where he will also be among the first on the field.
QB1.@eXjones6 /// #ForksUp #O2V pic.twitter.com/HCqtEeJkMi
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 18, 2022
247Sports’ Graham Hall has confirmed Thompson’s original report and has added that there is hope that Miller can return “before the midway point of the season”.
Hall also reported that as of Tuesday, on three of Florida’s six rostered quarterbacks were participating in practice: Anthony Richardson, [autotag]Max Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Engel[/autotag]. Kitna, a redshirt freshman, wore a non-contact jersey and did not participate due to a lower-leg injury.
Head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is expected to provide an update on Miller after Florida’s scrimmage on Sunday.
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Gators Wire’s 2022 position-by-position roster breakdown starts with the quarterback room.
The college football season begins in slightly less than three weeks, which means there’s still time to break down the 2022 Florida Gators roster position-by-position. The quarterbacks are up first, and there’s a pretty clear hierarchy heading into the season.
In 2021, the quarterback position at Florida was a mess under offensive guru Dan Mullen. [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag] entered the year as the team’s starter, but the fans soon clamored for the freshman with the big arm and even more impressive legs, [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag]. Mullen stuck with Jones for most of the year until finally giving Richardson a shot to start against … Georgia. Talk about setting a kid up for failure.
Jones closed the year as the starter when Richardson was dealing with injuries. The two combined for 18 interceptions (and 25 touchdowns) to close a 6-7 year. Florida let Mullen go well before the lame-duck loss to UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl, and the Billy Napier Era started to take shape. Jones earned his degree from UF and transferred to Arizona State, leaving Richardson the presumed starter for 2022.
Florida also lost [autotag]Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag] to Syracuse via the transfer portal, but Napier didn’t make any moves after that loss, signaling he was comfortable with the depth he has at the position.
Let’s go through the quarterbacks on the 2022 roster.
Check back with Gators Wire for more position-by-position breakdowns leading up to the season.
One of Florida’s quarterbacks is dealing with an injury, but Billy Napier is describing it as a minor setback.
The Gators will be without third-string quarterback [autotag]Jalen Kitna[/autotag] for an indefinite amount of time, according to [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s comments to reporters on Tuesday. Swamp247 got an update from the first-year head coach, and the damage, fortunately, sounds minor.
“I would say Kitna is the player that I probably saw the most growth in from spring practice,” Kitna said. “Just to see him take another step fundamentally, I thought he’s throwing the ball much more consistently, much more accurate, better grasp. You know, he had a little bit of a setback injury-wise. We anticipate getting him back. He had a small procedure just yesterday.”
Whatever Kitna is dealing with, he won’t be rushed back to practice. [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] is the team’s clear starter and Ohio State transfer [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] has a fairly firm hold on the backup spot for now.
During the spring game, Kitna saw limited action and attempted just three passes, one of which was intercepted. Still, he emerged as a clear No. 3 with [autotag]Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag]’s transfer. Freshman [autotag]Max Brown[/autotag], a three-star recruit in the 2022 cycle, and walk-on [autotag]Kyle Engel[/autotag] are also in the position room for Florida.
There’s no timeline for Kitna’s return, but Napier’s comments make it sound like he could be healthy for some portion of the season if necessary.
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The Top247 transfer rankings have been finalized and there are five incoming Gators on the list.
It’s no secret that Florida has seen a decent amount of movement through the transfer portal this offseason, and there’s reason to be excited about the new names and faces coming to Gainesville next season.
247Sports finalized its Top247 college football transfer portal player rankings, and five incoming Gators made the cut. Offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] leads the way at No. 33 overall and is joined by fellow Louisiana-Lafayette offensive line transfer [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag] at No. 41.
Torrence was a three-year starter for the Ragin’ Cajuns and [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] decided that his skill set fit the needs of his new team. Playing his final year in the Southeastern Conference should help his draft stock rise, assuming he takes the step forward he’s expected to. Waites only played one year at ULL, but Florida needed offensive linemen and he’s got the size (6-foot-8-inches, 358-pounds) to compete at the highest level in college football.
Next up is former Georgia cornerback [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] at No. 49 on the list. Kimber was targeted by cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] after playing just three games in two years at UGA due to a shoulder injury that limited him for most of 2021. He likely would have seen plenty of playing time with the Bulldogs this season had he stayed, but now he’ll compete for a starting job at Florida instead.
[autotag]Montrell Jonhson[/autotag], the third Lousiana transfer to make the cut, is ranked No. 70 among transfers and has a shot to be a major contributor in his first season with the Gators. He knows Napier’s playbook and was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2021 after rushing for 838 yards on 162 attempts (5.17 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns.
Finally, there’s the newest addition to the team, Arizona State transfer [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] at No. 155 on the list. He was one of the best receivers in the Pac-12 last season and gives the Gators some depth at a position where they don’t have much experience from returning players to rely on.
Of course, Florida did lose its share of Top247 talent as well. The Gators lost linebacker [autotag]Mohamoud Diabate[/autotag] (No. 42) to Utah, receiver [autotag]Jacob Copeland[/autotag] (No. 60) to Maryland, linebacker [autotag]Ty’Ron Hopper[/autotag] (No. 86) to Missouri, EDGE [autotag]Khris Bogle[/autotag] (No. 88) to [autotag]Michigan State [/autotag]and tight end [autotag]Kemore Gamble[/autotag] (No. 135) to UCF.
Quarterback [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] is the only incoming transfer not ranked by 247Sports. [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag],[autotag] Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Gerald Mincey[/autotag] comprise the list of outgoing players that failed to make the Top247.
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After just a year with the Orange and Blue, Carlos Del Rio-Wilson is headed to Syracuse via the transfer portal.
Florida lost a pair of quarterbacks to the transfer portal this offseason, redshirt junior [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag] and redshirt freshman [autotag]Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag].
Jones’ departure was somewhat expected after [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] took over at the program and brought in [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] to compete with him and [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], but Del Rio-Wilson was only a true freshman and third on the depth chart once Jones left. He played sparingly in the spring game, attempting just two passes and absorbing a pair of sacks.
His new home will be in upstate New York as Del Rio-Wilson announced that he’d be joining the Syracuse Orange on his social media Tuesday. When he first announced his intention to enter the transfer portal, Napier took the time to praise Del Rio-Wilson and said he’d help as much as he could to find him a new home.
“Carlos was first-class for us,” Napier said. “I can’t compliment him enough. His work ethic. He was a good teammate. He’s done a really good job representing himself, his family, since he’s been at the University of Florida. Nothing but good things to say about him.”
First, thank you to all the teams that reached out and all the coaches that helped me out!! 🙏 ❤️ Now Let’s play football!!!! #starvingtoprove 🤨@CuseFootball @CoachBabersCuse @Coach_Beck7 @CoachAnae pic.twitter.com/DIduznRPfE
— QBCarlosDelRio (@QBCarlosDelrio) May 24, 2022
That leaves Florida with Richardson, Miller and [autotag]Jalen Kitna[/autotag] on the roster, and they’ll soon add [autotag]Max Brown[/autotag] once he enrolls this June.
Del Rio-Wilson will do his best to overtake Garrett Shrader as the starter. He’ll have plenty of competition to overcome as well, but Syracuse’s depth chart isn’t nearly as set in stone as Florida’s is.
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Keep an eye on where Carlos Del Rio-Wilson lands.
Things have been in flux for Florida football this spring as Billy Napier and his army of staffers begin to revamp the program with the aim of restoring glory to the Orange and Blue. As what happens with every change in management there will be some expected casualties that come with the installation of a new philosophical approach to the game.
Fortunately, the college football transfer portal has been a boon for players stuck in dead-end positions who have plenty to offer to other schools. After the addition of [autotag]Jake Miller III[/autotag] from the portal from Ohio State, the quarterback room began to feel a bit claustrophobic. True freshman dual-threat thrower [autotag]Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag] felt the pressure and entered the transfer portal on April 19 to begin seeking greener pastures.
But Del Rio-Wilson has not been out of the media’s eye, as NBC Sports EDGE’s Crissy Froyd listed him as one of her five quarterbacks to watch in the transfer portal. Here is what she had to say about the former Gator.
With coaching changes typically come some level of movement and the situation at Florida has proven no different in regard to that since [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] took [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s spot back in December. Junior passer [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag], who recently landed at Arizona State, was among the quarterbacks to enter the portal. Del Rio-Wilson followed, announcing his intentions transfer in April after he was unable to break into the rotation last year and after athletic sophomore quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] put on a standout performance in the spring.
The former four-star prospect still has all four years of eligibility remaining after taking a redshirt in 2021, and has a lot of untapped potential as a player who was Sports Illustrated All-American‘s fifth highest-graded passer at the 2020 Elite 11 Finals. Del Rio-Wilson attempted just two passes in Florida’s spring game this year, and it quickly became evident it would be in his best interest to look for other opportunities as Florida also brought on Ohio State redshirt freshman transfer Jack Miller, who wasted little time grabbing the backup spot to Richardson.
Napier praised Del Rio-Wilson’s work ethic, calling him a “first-class” player, but was understanding of his decision.
“I think he just observed spring practice and felt like a change of scenery would be good for him in terms of competing and finding an opportunity to play,” Napier told reporters. “And I can relate to that. I was a quarterback, and you want to play. You want it to be your team at some point. I respect that decision and we’re fully supportive and help him with everything he can do going forward.”
Both parties go their separate ways on mutual terms and Del Rio-Wilson has a chance to thrive in another place.
The signal-caller out of Cartersville, Georgia, appeared in the Orange and Blue game as a backup on the Blue team, only to attempt a pair of incomplete passes while getting sacked twice. He was a four-star dual-threat prospect in the 2021 class and was ranked No. 146 overall nationally, No. 17 at his position and the No. 16 prep in his state during recruitment.
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The spring transfer period is heating up and Florida is looking to gain more than it loses this time around.
Florida football had its ups and downs during the fall transfer period. New head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] brought in a trio of former players from Louisiana in and [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] came over from Ohio State. Meanwhile, the team lost several projected starters as the new coaching staff settled in.
Now that spring practices are wrapped up and the new culture is somewhat established, Napier and the Gators are preparing to take on the spring transfer period. ESPN dropped its list of the top 25 players available in the portal and only two departing Gators are on it, [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag].
Jones entertained the idea of transferring in the fall but ultimately decided to stay through the spring to get his degree at UF. As spring practices wound down, Jones finally put his name into the portal and will be playing elsewhere next season. He checks in at No. 11 on ESPN’s list of available spring 2022 transfers.
Jones waited three seasons for his chance to start at Florida, but this season did not go quite as anyone planned. Though Jones earned the starting job, former coach [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] also played [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] — and his highlight plays left fans clamoring for more of Richardson and less of Jones. Mullen could never seem to decide the best way to use them both, and Jones never got going in a consistent way.
Del Rio-Wilson, the No. 16 transfer on ESPN’s list, waited until after the spring game to make his announcement. After only attempting two passes in the fourth quarter of the Orange and Blue game, he decided to seek more opportunities elsewhere with Napier’s backing.
Del Rio-Wilson was the No. 58 recruit in the 2021 class and signed with Florida out of Cartersville High School in Loganville, Georgia. He redshirted his first season and is now looking elsewhere to play out the rest of his eligibility.
The good news for these two is that they are considered the top two quarterbacks in the portal right now by ESPN. Behind them are Baylor’s Gerry Bohanon and UNLV’s Justin Rogers which means the former Gators have a good shot at landing somewhere decent. JT Daniels was the most coveted quarterback transfer in the fall cycle and wound up at West Virginia. A similar transition could be in store for Jones.
Florida will also look to add players through the transfer portal this spring, and ESPN has them in the mix for two of its top-5 transfers. Former Arizona State linebacker [autotag]Eric Gentr[/autotag]y is No. 2 on the list and Florida is competing with Miami, Penn State and Texas for his services. There’s also wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] from ASU who sits at No. 4 on the list and led the team with 580 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Pearsall might be the more coveted recruit for Florida given the team’s lack of depth at wide receiver, but Napier’s pointed out that there are several holes for the team to fill throughout the spring. Time will tell if Florida can keep up in the evolving NIL space as well after losing out on defensive lineman Darrell Jackson to Miami.
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The Gators won’t look for a transfer replacement for Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, and Billy Napier plans to help him through the transfer process.
Quarterback [autotag]Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag] announced his decision to transfer from the University of Florida on Tuesday, but there aren’t any hard feelings from the coaching staff. In fact, head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is being quite supportive of the move, according to a report from 247Sports.
“I think he just observed spring practice and felt like a change of scenery would be good for him in terms of competing and finding an opportunity to play,” Napier said. “And I can relate to that. I was a quarterback, and you want to play. You want it to be your team at some point. I respect that decision and we’re fully supportive and help him with everything he can do going forward.”
Napier described Del Rio-Wilson as “first-class” with a strong work ethic. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him thrive elsewhere, but the timeline at Florida wasn’t going to work out. The Gators added quarterback [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] through the portal over the offseason and he quickly took over the backup role behind starter [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag].
Florida also signed three-star recruit [autotag]Max Brown[/autotag]and has [autotag]Jalen Kitna[/autotag] on scholarship. Even with [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag] heading out, UF was looking at having five quarterbacks on the roster had Del Rio-Wilson not entered the portal. He and Kitna redshirted last year, so their eligibility clocks are now ticking.
Because Florida has the depth it needs for the season at quarterback and is looking to add another in the class of 2023, Napier said that the Gators would not be looking to add another name to the room during the spring transfer period.
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Have the Gators finally locked in on a quarterback prospect? Dylan Lonergan has the Gators in his top 5.
After missing out on a couple of elite quarterbacks in the class of 2023, Florida has made four-star [autotag]Dylan Lonergan[/autotag]’s top five.
The Snellville, Georgia, recruit released the list on social media Friday and spoke to On3’s Hayes Fawcett about each program left in his recruitment. Alabama, Ohio State, Stanford and South Carolina are Florida’s competitors.
“Florida is going to get a lot better the next few years and Coach Napier has a great record with QBs,” Lonergan said. “Great baseball program as well.”
Lonergan wants to be a dual-sport athlete in college, and the Gators’ baseball program is one of the nation’s best. Safety [autotag]Miguel Mitchell[/autotag] will be spending time with both teams, so it’s at least something [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is open to. Lonergan features a fastball in the low 90s with room to pick up speed and a hard slider that’s used as a strikeout pitch.
Down to 5….@Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/sGRkPPcGVD
— Dylan Lonergan (@_dylanlonergan) April 22, 2022
If baseball is what gets him to Florida, so be it. The Gators need to add a quarterback with [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag] in the transfer portal, and Lonergan is a top-10 player at the position. Unless [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] or [autotag]Dante Moore[/autotag] suddenly names Florida as a top contender, Lonergan or [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag] remain the best available options.
He’s the No. 82 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 9 ranked quarterback, according to the On3 consensus.
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