Florida Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio has to leave the game near halftime versus the Vanderbilt Commodores with an apparent injury.
The Vanderbilt Commodores are playing a tight one down in The Swamp in Gainesville versus the No. 21 Florida Gators. Vanderbilt’s defense has been key in keeping the Commodores in this game. It is all tied up at 17 at the half, but Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio went down with an injury.
He would get drilled on this pass attempt by Vanderbilt defensive end Dare Odeyingbo. Del Rio would land on the same shoulder he has hurt in the pass. It looked to be a very painful hit. With Del Rio exiting the game, it would force redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks into the game for Florida.
Here’s the replay of the Luke Del Rio hit that sent him to the locker room. https://t.co/ThHBodmcMB
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) September 30, 2017
The quarterback position has been a revolving door of mediocrity for the Gators since Tim Tebow left Gainesville. Del Rio has been a solid player for the Gators, but hasn’t been healthy for most of his time with the team.
Franks did help the Gators win their first game of the season over the SEC East rival Tennessee Volunteers in Week 3 on a Hail Mary attempt in The Swamp. However, not being able to lean on his offense has been an all too familiar problem for Florida head coach Jim McElwain.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator and Colorado State Rams head coach was brought in to turn around this lackluster Florida offense. While the Gators have won the SEC East during his first two years in Gainesville, McElwain has not been able to deliver on the offensive side of the ball.
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Florida could still be in a good spot to win the SEC East should the Gators knock off Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon. That would give the Gators three SEC East wins on the year over Tennessee, the Kentucky Wildcats and the Commodores.