Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio will miss Saturday’s game at No. 14 Tennessee because of a knee injury, coach Jim McElwain announced Monday.
The 19th-ranked Gators (3-0) will turn to former Purdue starter Austin Appleby against the Volunteers (3-0).
Appleby, a fifth-year senior, played in 17 games (11 starts) while at Purdue. He threw for 2,777 yards, with 19 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, and ran for nine scores.
Del Rio left Saturday night’s 32-0 win over North Texas in Gainesville, Fla., late in the third quarter. On a drop-back pass, Del Rio was hit from behind near the knees by North Texas defensive end Devin O’Hara, who was flagged for a late hit on the play. Del Rio limped gingerly back to the locker room.
The play sent an angry McElwain out near midfield, where he screamed at the officials and the North Texas sideline. Mean Green first-year coach Seth Littrell yelled back, and on an ensuing play, Florida offensive lineman Martez Ivey was ejected after roughing up a North Texas player following the whistle.
After the game, McElwain said he took the hit on his quarterback personally and said he told Littrell that he didn’t think the late hit was intentional during the postgame handshake.
“You know what, I really care about these players,” McElwain told reporters. “I care about them in more ways than just as football players. When you see something like that, it’s my responsibility when their parents aren’t here to be their parents. Each and every guy on this football team knows how much I care for him. I got their back.”
Tennessee will be without defensive back Cam Sutton, who broke a bone in his right ankle in the Volunteers’ 28-19 victory over Ohio at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday.
Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin also left the game with a shoulder injury, but Tennessee coach Butch Jones said he will play against Florida.