List of Florida Gators starting quarterbacks

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This list of Florida Gators starting quarterbacks includes members of the Florida Gators football team who have started at the quarterback position in one or more regular season or post-season games. The Florida Gators represent the University of Florida in the sport of American football, and they compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Florida Gators quarterbacks have led their teams to 689 wins, forty post-season bowl games, eight SEC championships, and three consensus national championships.

Contents

Three Gators quarterbacks have won the Heisman Trophy: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), and Tim Tebow (2007). Five have been recognized as first-team All-Americans: Spurrier (1966), John Reaves (1971), Wuerffel (1996), Rex Grossman (2000), and Tebow (2007). Eighteen have been inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, including sixteen recognized as "Gator Greats" for their college sports careers, and two as "Distinguished Lettermen" for their post-college career achievements. Two former Gators quarterbacks have returned to lead the Gators as their head coach: Doug Dickey (1970–78) and Steve Spurrier (1990–2001).

Main starting quarterbacks

1906 to 1911

The following players were the predominant quarters for the Gators each season the team was a non-conference independent team, following the birth of Florida football.

NameYears StartedNotabilityReferences
Charlie Thompson1906–1908The university's first quarterback. [1]
Charlie Bartleson1908He ran in the touchdown to tie Stetson. Freshman Dummy Taylor added the extra point to win 65. [2] [3]
Chippy Edgerton1909–1910
Bob W. Shackleford1910–1911Once picked second-team for an all-time Florida team in 1927, Shackleford was the quarterback on the 1911 team first dubbed "Gators" and which dubbed itself the "champions of South Carolina." He was later Rex Farrior's law partner. [4]

1912 to 1921 (incomplete)

Rammy Ramsdell. Rammy Ramsdell.jpg
Rammy Ramsdell.

The following quarterbacks were the predominant quarters for the Gators each season after they joined the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association until the establishment of the Southern Conference.

NameYears StartedNotabilityReferences
Harry S. Hester1912"Harvey" scored 7 touchdowns in the 144–0 win over Florida-Southern in 1913. [5] [6]
George Mosley1913 [7]
Rammy Ramsdell 1913–1915 University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. Once picked at the position for an all-time Florida team in 1927. The first scholarship athlete at UF. [4]
Artie Fuller1916–1917Fuller was a fullback before he was a quarterback. [8]
Horace Loomis1917 [9]
?1918
B. Anderson1919–1920 Rondo Hatton was Anderson's backup. [10]
T. Hoyt Carlton1920–1921 [11]
Bill Renfroe1921 [12]
George Stanley1921 [13]

1922 to 1932

Edgar Charles Jones (Florida).png
Edgar Jones
Clydecrabtree.jpg
Clyde Crabtree

The following quarterbacks were the predominant quarters for the Gators each season after the establishment of the Southern Conference until the establishment of the Southeastern Conference.

NameYears StartedNotabilityReferences
Joseph Barchan1922 [14]
Stewart Pomeroy1922He started against Harvard. [15]
Edgar C. Jones 1923–1925He scored all of UF's points in the 16 to 6 upset victory to close the season in 1923 over conference leading Alabama. In 1925, Jones set a Florida Gators football single-season scoring record (108 points) that stood for 44 years. Twice All-Southern. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. He was the university's athletic director from 1930 to 1936. [16] [17]
Johnnie Murphree1924 [18]
Spic Stanley1925
Goof Bowyer 1926–1928Captain of 1928 team which led the nation in scoring with 336 points. He was later a coach, including the Gators' backfield coach in 1933. University of Florida Athletics Hall of Fame. [19]
Carl Brumbaugh 1927Member of "Phantom Four" backfield of 1928 which led the nation in scoring. National Football League player. [20]
Speedy Walker 1927University of Florida Athletics Hall of Fame [21]
Clyde Crabtree 1927–1929"Cannonball" was head of the "Phantom Four" backfield of 1928 which led the nation in scoring. He was ambidextrous and could pass or punt equally well with either hand or foot, while on the run or stationary. All-Southern. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. National Football League player. [22]
Monk Dorsett 1930–1932 [23]

1933 to present

RexGrossmanRedskins.jpg
Rex Grossman practicing with the Washington Redskins.
Gators2007QBs.jpg
QBs in 2007. Tebow is on the right. Brantley in the center.

The following quarterbacks were the starters and/or leading passer for the Gators each season since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1933.

NameYears StartedNotabilityReferences
Sam Davis1933The Tampa native was the first captain and quarterback since Bowyer. Davis was then rated the greatest all-around athlete ever to come out of Plant High School. [24]
Wally Brown 19342nd-team All-SEC. [25]
Ken Eppert1935 [26]
Bill Stephens1935
Bob Ivey1936His backup was Tiger Mayberry. [27]
Ed Manning1936
Paul Brock1936
Jack Blalock1937–1938Replaced Brock. [28]
Tex Hanna1939 [29]
Bill Latsko1940–1942Grandfather of Billy Latsko. [30]
Buddy Carte1944From Tampa. He was in the backfield with UF Hall of Fame member Bobby Forbes. [31]
Earl Scarborough1945From Jacksonville, he later coached the freshman team. [32]
Angus Williams 1945, 1948–1950Led the "Golden Era" teams which defeated Georgia in 1949. He was later a well known insurance executive in Tampa. [33]
Billy Parker1946Wendell "Billy" Parker spent 30 years as an educator and 20 years on the Duval County School Board. The Gators failed to win a single game in 1946, but Parker led the nation's 7th best passing attack. [34]
Doug Belden 1947–1948
Haywood Sullivan 1950–1951University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. The first sophomore in SEC history to throw for more than 1,000 yards in a season. Major League Baseball player, manager, general manager, and club owner with the Boston Red Sox. Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
Rick Casares 1952University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame; played multiple running back positions.
Doug Dickey 1952–1953Climbed from seventh-string to starter after Sullivan left for the Major Leagues. Dickey also coached Florida from 1970 to 1978. Long time AD at Univ. of Tennessee. Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. College Football Hall of Fame. [35]
Dick Allen1954; 1959
Bobby Lance1955
Jimmy Dunn1956–1958University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Larry Libertore 1960–1962University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Tom Batten1961
Tom Shannon1962–1964University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Steve Spurrier 1964–1966Coached UF to its first national championship in 1996, and was its first Heisman Trophy winner in 1966. Recognized by The Gainesville Sun as the second greatest player from the first century of the Gators football program. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. [36]
Jack Eckdahl1967-1968After the third game of the season against LSU in 1967 Eckdahl had a season ending injury, breaking his leg in practice.
Larry Rentz 1967–1968
John Reaves 1969–1971First-team All-SEC (1969). First-team All-American (1971). Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. National Football League player. Finished Florida career as all-time NCAA leader in passing yards. Played 11 seasons in the NFL and two in the USFL. [22]
Chan Gailey 1972Current offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. Former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills.
David Bowden1972–1973
Don Gaffney 1973–1975He was the first African-American to play quarterback for the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida, and was later elected to the Florida House of Representatives. [37]
Jimmy Fisher1975–1976
Bill Kynes1976Son of James W. Kynes. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. Ended football career early to become a Rhodes Scholar.
Terry LeCount 1977
Tim Groves1978–1979
John Brantley, III1978Father of John Brantley.
Tyrone Young 1979
Johnell Brown1979
Larry Ochab1979–1980
Bob Hewko 1980–1982Recruited by Steve Spurrier. Started first 3 games of 1980 season, helping to lead major turnaround under offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan. Injured knee in third game and replaced by Wayne Peace.
Wayne Peace 1980–1983University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Kerwin Bell 1984–1987SEC Player of the Year (1984). First-team All-SEC (1985). Honorable mention All-American (1985, 1986). University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame. Went on to be successful college coach; currently head coach at Valdosta State. [22]
Rodney Brewer 1986Also played on Gator baseball team; spent four years with the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball.
Kyle Morris1988–1989
Herbert Perry 1988Also a key member of the baseball team. Played nine seasons in Major League Baseball. Grew up in same small town (Mayo, Florida) as predecessor Kerwin Bell.
Lex Smith1989
Donald Douglas1989Transferred to the University of Houston.
Shane Matthews 1990–1992Led UF to its first official SEC championship (1991). First Team All-SEC (1990-92). SEC Player of the Year (1990, 1991). SEC Player of the Year (1990, 1991). Second-team All-American (1992). Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. [22]
Terry Dean 1993–1994Threw six touchdown passes against Louisiana-Lafayette. [38]
Danny Wuerffel 1993–1996Led UF to its first national championship in 1996. 1996 Heisman Trophy Winner. College Football Hall of Fame. Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. [39]
Eric Kresser 1995Transferred to Marshall University, where he threw to Randy Moss. National and Canadian Football League player.
Doug Johnson 1997–1999Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame. Played five seasons in the NFL, mostly for Atlanta. Drafted by Tampa Bay Rays and played portions of two seasons in their minor league system.
Noah Brindise1997Started his career as a walk-on.
Jesse Palmer 1997–2000ESPN college football analyst. Contestant on ABC's The Bachelor. NFL player.
Rex Grossman 2000–2002Consensus All-American. 2001 Heisman Trophy runner-up. Associated Press Player of the Year. Recognized by the Gainesville Sun in 2006 as the No. 10 all-time Gator. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. [22] [40]
Brock Berlin 2001Transferred to Miami.
Ingle Martin 2003Transferred to Furman. Spent four seasons with five different NFL teams 2006-2009, played for New York of the UFL in 2009.
Chris Leak 2003–2006Led the Gators to the 2006 BCS National Championship, also named MVP. Florida career leader in passing yards (11,213).
Tim Tebow 2007–2009Part of two National and SEC Championships (2006, 2008). Twice All-American, thrice All-SEC. 2007 Heisman Trophy winner. SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2008). At the end of his college career, Tebow held five NCAA, 14 SEC, and 28 UF statistical records. He was the SEC's all-time leader in career passing efficiency (170.8), completion percentage (67.1%), passing touchdown to interception ratio (5.5 to 1), rushing yards by a quarterback (2947), rushing touchdowns (any position) (57), and total touchdowns responsible for (145). Played three seasons in NFL. Played minor league baseball for the New York Mets. Signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a tight end, released August 2021. [41] [42] [43]
John Brantley 2010–2011Son of John Brantley, III. [44]
Jacoby Brissett 2011–2012Transferred to North Carolina State.
Jeff Driskel 2012–2014Transferred to Louisiana Tech. Drafted and signed by the Boston Red Sox but never played professional baseball. [45]
Tyler Murphy 2013Transferred to Boston College. [46]
Skyler Mornhinweg2013Son of Marty Mornhinweg. Transferred to Columbia. [47]
Treon Harris 20142015Transferred to Tennessee State in 2016. [48]
Will Grier 2015Suspended for PEDs. Transferred to West Virginia.
Luke Del Rio 2016-2017Son of Jack Del Rio. Transferred from Oregon State. Offensive quality control coach in the NFL for Washington.
Austin Appleby 2016Graduate transfer from Purdue.
Feleipe Franks 2017-2019Transferred to Arkansas.
Malik Zaire 2017Graduate transfer from Notre Dame.
Kyle Trask 2019–2020Started nine games in 2019 and all ten games in 2020. Holds UF single-season passing touchdowns record (40). Drafted by the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2021 draft, 64th overall pick in round 2.
Emory Jones 2021Transferred to Arizona State.
Anthony Richardson 2021–2022Played in rotation with Emory Jones in 2021. Drafted #4 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
Jack Miller III 2022Transfer from Ohio State. Started the Las Vegas Bowl.
Graham Mertz 2023-2024Transfer from Wisconsin.
Max Brown 2023Transferred to Charlotte.
DJ Lagway 2024
Aidan Warner 2024Transfer from Yale. Preferred walk-on.

References

  1. "The First Game With Rollins". The University News. November 9, 1906. Retrieved July 15, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. McEwen 1974 , p. 42
  3. "Football Game". Stetson Weekly Collegiate. Vol. 21, no. 3. November 26, 1908.
  4. 1 2 "Writer Picks All-Time Gator Eleven, Going Back 10 Years To Name Taylor And Storter". The Evening Independent. October 14, 1927. p. 5A.
  5. "In 1913 game, Gator star had an assumed name". The Evening Independent. November 16, 1984.
  6. Robbie Andreu. "No. 74 FLORIDA 144, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 0".
  7. "Playing a Defensive Battle, Jackets Are Content To Win, By Two Touchdowns Margin". The Atlanta Constitution. October 26, 1913. p. 9. Retrieved July 22, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. "Southern Puts Up A Stiff Fight But Gators Prove Too Strong". The Florida Alligator. October 31, 1917.
  9. "Florida Loses To Kentucky 52-0". The Florida Alligator. December 5, 1917.
  10. "Gamecock Feathers Fly When Florida Defeats S. C." Florida Alligator. November 27, 1919. p. 8.
  11. "Mercer Goes Down Before Orange and Blue Onslaught". Florida Alligator. October 21, 1921.
  12. "'Gators Smother Rollins 33 to 0". Florida Alligator. October 14, 1921.
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  19. "Brumbaugh Out of Grid Battle". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 24, 1928.
  20. "Gators Romp Over Auburn In 33-6 Time". The Anniston Star. October 8, 1927. p. 16. Retrieved September 4, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  21. "Gator Working For Big Game". St. Petersburg Times. November 3, 1927.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 77, 80, 86, 89, 94, 97-98, 101-03, 125, 136, 141, 142-44, 146-48, 158-59, 162, 170, 181 (2011). Retrieved August 29, 2011.
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  34. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  39. "Danny Wuerffel".
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  44. "Gators Convincing In 41-3 Win Over FAU; Take 22nd Straight Season Opener To Begin Muschamp Era". Florida Gators. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  45. "Florida names QB Jeff Driskel starter". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  46. Thamel, Pete. "Florida QB Tyler Murphy to transfer to Boston College". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  47. Thompson, Edgar (May 13, 2015). "Back-up QB Skyler Mornhinweg transfers to Columbia, leaving UF with two scholarship QBs". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  48. Aschoff, Edward (July 25, 2016). "Treon Harris transferring from Florida". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 30, 2016.

Bibliography