When Dan Mullen flipped Emory Jones from Ohio State to Florida, the quarterback signee seemed like a saving grace. Jones wasn’t able to win the starting job outright during camp and it appeared that he would end up taking a redshirt. But he made a surprise appearance against Georgia and looked pretty good. Now, the question is… when does his time begin?
Who Was The Emory Jones The Gators Recruited?
If Gator fans don’t remember, the Jones recruitment was hasty. Florida took second place to Georgia for Justin Fields and Matt Corral flipped to Ole Miss. Mullen then hosted Jones for an official (Jones committed to OSU his sophomore year). The visit seemed to go well, but Jones traveled to Tallahassee the next day, leaving fans puzzled. Plus he was still committed to Ohio State. But on Signing Day, Jones became a Florida Gator.
A kid who got the call from Urban Meyer his sophomore year has got to have the stats. And oh, did Jones have the stats. Despite his slight, 6’3,” 195 pound frame, he managed to be the fifth-ranked dual-threat QB in the 2018 class. The Georgia native also led Heard County High School to a 12-2 record his senior year, where the offense run there had some striking similarities to the one run by Dan Mullen.
The Emory Jones who committed to Florida was to be the new face of the franchise.
What’s He Been Up to This Season?
Despite the preseason hype, it is still hard for a QB to break into an elite program as a true freshman. Jones showed flashes during the Orange and Blue game, throwing two touchdown passes.
However, he fell to third on the depth chart as the battle narrowed down to incumbent starter Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask during Fall Camp.
Emory Jones pic.twitter.com/RsxadE1QnG
— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) March 17, 2018
Jones earned some playing reps against Charleston Southern, but his three rushing attempts for -4 yards left a lot to be desired. Many fans figured that Jones might make an appearance in another couple of games to flex his redshirt. But, who would’ve thought Jones would be in against the Georgia Bulldogs?
Dual-threat quarterbacks often rely on the run early on and Jones hasn’t looked to be much different. He rushed for 12 yards against Georgia and that number is slightly deceiving.
The reason I say it is deceiving is because on the last drive before halftime, Jones lost seven yards on a pitch that was deflected by the Georgia defensive end. Not only does that skew his rushing yards, but it was almost a big play as it looked like running back Jordan Scarlett had an open field ahead had the pitch been completed.
Additionally, while Jones did not log any passing yards, he certainly contributed through the air. Jones showcased a Franks-style arm on this beautiful 50-yard bomb to Van Jefferson.
While the pass interference penalty prevented the play from ending up on Jones’ stat sheet, it directly led to a field goal to pull the Gators to within six. And Gator fans, starved for elite QB play, certainly saw the talent in the throw. And they’re excited.
https://twitter.com/realbsikes/status/1056308999602225153
That throw by Emory Jones has me so excited for the future of @GatorsFB !!!
— Ross Hegenwald (@ross_hegenwald) October 27, 2018
Just from one throw, we can see Emory jones is a better passer than franks
— Joe Dirt (@jsallustio13) October 27, 2018
At postgame media, Coach Mullen said “the plan is still to redshirt [Jones].” He’s sticking with that sentiment, but it looks like he’s starting to put more faith in the freshman.
Mullen says you can expect to see Emory Jones in at least two more games this season.
— Megan Plain (@MeganPlain) October 29, 2018
The Dan Mullen Quarterback Plan
Although Florida fans are itching for a new man under center, Mullen’s got it all under control. This is hardly the first time he’s recruited a dual-threat and redshirted him to ensure future success. Long story short, he’s an expert at playing the long game.
Both Dak Prescott and Nick Fitzgerald redshirted as freshmen at Mississippi State. But besides that, Mullen is doing a good job in his first year. A 6-2 record still means the Gators are bowl eligible with projections having the Gators favored to win the rest of its regular season games. The possibility of 10-2 with Feleipe Franks at quarterback is definitely something to be proud of.
And while 10-2 is nothing to sneeze at, Mullen has broader dreams. An extra year of Jones may help achieve those. We’ve all seen what happened at Mississippi State when Mullen got his own guy behind center.
What’s to Come?
Jones has two games left to remain a redshirt freshman and his coaches are planning to give him a shot. He’s a quick runner and displayed touch on a long ball that has whet fans’ appetites.
In the fast-paced world of college football, it’s hard to forget that slow and steady sometimes wins the race. But in a program that’s essentially been quarterback-less for a decade, what’s one more year?
Emory Jones will always be the first quarterback who bought into Dan Mullen’s Gators. You know it, I know it, and Dan Mullen definitely knows it. Expect big things for him when his time finally comes.
And instead of arguing about whether he should be the starter, it’s more fun to debate about the games in which he should be utilized. Do you have him play a ton against the likes of Idaho? Or do you save him for a drive against FSU at Doak when you need a first down and maybe start him in the bowl game after a month of practices?
What do you think? Comment below!