Luke Del Rio opened the 2016 season as the Florida Gators' quarterback of the future.
But injuries derailed Del Rio's season and now raise the question whether he will start another game for the Gators.
Del Rio will miss spring practices following shoulder surgery, the school announced Thursday. Del Rio has not played since he was injured Nov. 5 against Arkansas.
Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby stepped in for Del Rio and finished out the season. First-year freshman Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask were expected to enter spring practices battling Del Rio for the starting job in 2017.
The 6-foot-1, 211-pound Del Rio's lacks the size and arm strength of Franks and Trask, but holds an edge in experience and understanding of coach Jim McElwain's offense. Now Franks (6-6, 219) and Trask (6-4, 228) will gain ground on Del Rio and could turn it into a two-man QB race entering preseason camp in August.
Del Rio was 5-1 as a starter at UF. He was a 3-0 mark when he sprained his left knee against North Texas and missed the next month. When he returned to action, Del Rio struggled, totaling six interceptions and two touchdown passes against Missouri, Georgia and Arkansas.
Del Rio opened a 31-10 loss at Arkansas with a pick-six on the Gators' first offensive play.
Unless Del Rio returns and wins the job, Franks or Trask, who were early enrollees last January, would become UF's 10th starting quarterback since Tim Tebow's final season, in 2009.
Franks, who served as Appleby's back-up six games, is the current frontrunner. A four-star recruit out of Crawfordville, Franks has come a long way since his three-interception fiasco in the spring game
"You're talking about a guy, ultra talented that came in and we threw a lot him early and he's really, really learned how to prepare and how to take the offense and take the tools we're giving him and now apply him to the field," Nussmeier said.
The 6-foot-4, 228-pound Trask arrived from Houston having been a high school backup and lightly recruited, but is a quick study and might be the Gators' best pure passer.
"Kyle is a guy that when you tell him it one time, he gets it right now," Nussmeier said. "He can process information very, very well, his accuracy is unbelievable and he's just done a really, really good job for a guy that doesn't have a ton of snaps.
"When you put him in situations, he reacts very, very well."
Del Rio could be an effective game manager, but Franks and Trask likely give the Gators a better chance to field a more explosive passing game and overall offense.
The Gators ended the season No. 79 of 128 nationally in passing and No. 116 in total offense. Only 11 schools entered the bowl season with fewer plays of 10 yards or longer.
