Florida football: Emory Jones last impression

Emory Jones has spent four long seasons with the Florida football program. Thursday night in Tampa Bay, Jones will take the field for the last time as a Gator. Emory announced his intentions to transfer from Florida last week. While Jones is not officially in the portal, his name is expected to show up sometime after the Gators(6-6) battle Central Florida(8-4) on Thursday.

It’s been a season to forget for the Gators, and it’s had it’s ups and downs for Jones. Okay, mostly downs, otherwise he wouldn’t be looking for a new school. Florida opened up the season with two blowout victories over USF and FAU. Emory was feeling the pressure of the fanbase clamoring for backup, Anthony Richardson, to start the next game against Alabama. Emory turned in a solid game versus the Crimson Tide and followed it up with a big performance against Tennessee. This seemed to settle the fanbase down for the moment being. A loss at Kentucky, followed by a poor performance and benching in a loss at LSU, opened the door for Richardson to start against Georgia.

The support that he has been able to show Richardson this year, as well as the Florida football program, shows the true character of this young man

There has been no indication where Emory will be headed after he plays his final snap for the Gators. There has been some speculation on the programs who would be interested in the former 4-star high school recruit. They have an entire year of film to look back on to evaluate Jones, but it never hurts to have one last shot to impress against an 8-4 UCF team. It’s important to remember that Emory will be an improved quarterback next season. Plenty of decent teams would love to have this guy. He’s a great teammate and has a great attitude. Credit to him for choosing to play this one last game as a Gator. I’m sure it’ll be an emotional day for him.

It’s unclear whether Jones will play the entirety of the game. Richardson announced he was having season-ending surgery on his knee after the Florida State game. The Gators have two freshman quarterbacks on the team in Jalen Kitna, and Carlos de Rio-Wilson. Florida could try to have them get some game action with Jones heading out the door after the game. Neither of these young men have taken a snap yet in their college career, so I would lean towards Jones will be playing the entirety of the game.

It’s fair to say the expectations were high for Jones when he arrived on campus in Gainesville, and he just hasn’t been able to reach those expectations. He proved he is a serviceable quarterback in the SEC, but not one the Gators could hitch their wagon to and finally crack the college football playoffs.

Ironically, the Gators have signed a transfer quarterback in Jack Miller to provide some needed depth at the position Jones is vacating at the end of the season. It’s ironic because Miller is coming from Ohio State and Jones was a former Ohio State commit before being flipped to Florida.

Let’s hope Emory can steer the Florida football program to one last win under his watch, and that the young quarterback can find a suitable team for his talents. There is still a lot on the table for him in this bowl game.