Nov 21, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Austin Appleby (12) looks to pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first half at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Transfer QB Austin Appleby in the Middle of Quarterback Competition

It’s been almost three months since the Gators announced the addition of senior QB Austin Appleby. He spent the last three years playing for a Purdue team that went 6-30 and won two of 24 conference games. Appleby threw for 2,777 yards, 19 touchdowns and 19 interceptions with nine rushing touchdowns in his career.

The native of Canton, Ohio, home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, started 11 games the past two seasons, winning only two. However, Appleby says that the offense under coach McElwain and Nussmeier fits him well. 

Despite making it to the SEC Championship, the Gator offense finished the season eighth in the SEC in passing yards per game (207.1) as the quarterback spot will be awarded to either Appleby, transfer RS sophomore Luke Del Rio, or freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. Appleby is bigger, standing at 6-5, 235, and more mobile than Del Rio and more experienced than Franks and Trask.

Head coach Jim McElwain has been as hard to read as always, mentioning that all four quarterbacks are in the hunt, with no clear cut favorite. 

With plenty of questions still to be answered, Coach McElwain and the Gators will be on display Friday night, April 8, for the Orange and Blue Debut at 7 p.m.

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