Fansided

Ranking Florida’s quarterbacks since Tim Tebow by sadness factor

By John Buhler

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 5: Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 (R) and head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators smile during warm ups against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the SEC Championship game at Georgia Dome on December 5, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
ATLANTA - DECEMBER 5: Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 (R) and head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators smile during warm ups against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the SEC Championship game at Georgia Dome on December 5, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 9
Next
Florida QB Austin Appleby
Sep 3, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Austin Appleby (12) warms up before a football game against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

The Florida Gators have been terrible at quarterback since Tim Tebow’s left in 2010. Here are the nine subsequent Gator signal-callers ranked on sadness.

The Florida Gators lost their Week 4 game against the rival Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday due in large part to poor play from the quarterback position. Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby had to start in place of the injured Luke Del Rio. Appleby game managed decently in the first half but was exposed in the third quarter en route to the Gators’ first defeat of 2016.

Come to think of it, Florida has been abysmal at the quarterback position since Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Tebow didn’t have the best arm but ran Dan Mullen and Urban Meyer’s offense magnificently to a pair of national titles.

Along with the LSU Tigers of the SEC West, the Gators have had the worst starting quarterbacks in the SEC the last seven seasons. Here are all nine Florida starting quarterbacks since Tebow ranked on sadness factor.

Sep 17, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio (14) throws the ball during the second half against the North Texas Mean Green at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the North Texas Mean Green 32-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio (14) throws the ball during the second half against the North Texas Mean Green at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the North Texas Mean Green 32-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Luke Del Rio

The whole tale of Luke Del Rio in Gainesville hasn’t been completed just yet. Del Rio emerged as the Gators’ starting quarterback out of training camp this summer. He had actually been fairly impressive in his first three starts for the Gators.

Del Rio completed 62-101 of his passes (61.4%) for 762 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions before straining his MCL in Week 3 versus the UMass Minutemen. He was unable to play in Week 4 versus Tennessee and will be out for another two to four weeks for the Gators.

More college football coverage from FanSided

15 most loyal fanbases in college football

25 college football programs with most tradition

25 coaches we want to party with

Del Rio is the son of Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio. Many might have looked at Del Rio getting the starting job strictly based on his last name, but did show signs of promise in his three starts for the Gators.

The problem with Del Rio besides being hurt is that he is running out of eligibility. Florida is the third Power 5 program Del Rio has been a part of in four seasons. He signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2013 and spent the 2014 NCAA season with the Oregon State Beavers. Del Rio might have been the best quarterback in Gainesville since Tebow, but time isn’t on his side.

Home/College Football