Florida starting quarterback Emory Jones will enter the transfer portal, but plans to play in the Gasparilla Bowl against UCF on Dec. 23, the redshirt junior told Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel.
Jones started 11 games for the Gators in 2021 after replacing Heisman finalist Kyle Trask under center. He completed 67.6% of his passes for 2,562 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in a shaky debut. However, fans clamored for backup Anthony Richardson nearly from the start after he complied four touchdowns on 22 plays from scrimmage in the first two games of the season.
The quarterback situation hung over the head of the program as the Gators limped out to a 2-6 conference record. Head coach Dan Mullen was ultimately fired after Florida lost 24-23 against MIssouri in the penultimate game of the season. Billy Napier was hired from Louisiana to lead the program moving forward.
Jones had offers from nearly every school in the country out of high school, including Alabama, Florida State and Ohio State. Thamel reports that Jones -- a LaGrange, Georgia native -- is open to transferring anywhere in the country so long as he finds "a place that develops me and prepares me for the next level."
With Jones gone, all eyes will be on Richardson, though the sophomore will miss the bowl game after undergoing surgery on his knee. Florida also has true freshmen Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Jalen Kitna on the roster, though neither has thrown a collegiate pass. Longtime quarterback commit Nick Evers flipped from Florida to Oklahoma, leaving the Gators without a QB in the class of 2022.
Florida faces off against UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 23. The Gators won both previous matchups against the Knights.
