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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.

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

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1906 to 1911

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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.

Name Years Started Notability References
Charlie Thompson 1906–1908 The university's first quarterback. [1]
Charlie Bartleson 1908 He ran in the touchdown to tie Stetson. Freshman Dummy Taylor added the extra point to win 6–5. [2][3]
Edgerton 1909–1910
Bob W. Shackleford 1910–1911 Once 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)

[edit]
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.

Name Years Started Notability References
Harry S. Hester 1912 "Harvey" scored 7 touchdowns in the 144–0 win over Florida-Southern in 1913. [5][6]
George Mosley 1913 [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 Fuller 1916–1917 Fuller was a fullback before he was a quarterback. [8]
Horace Loomis 1917 [9]
? 1918
B. Anderson 1919–1920 Rondo Hatton was Anderson's backup. [10]
T. Hoyt Carlton 1920–1921 [11]
Bill Renfroe 1921 [12]
George Stanley 1921 [13]

1922 to 1932

[edit]
Edgar Jones
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.

Name Years Started Notability References
Joseph Barchan 1922 [14]
Stewart Pomeroy 1922 [15]
Edgar C. Jones 1923–1925 He 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 Murphree 1924 [18]
Spic Stanley 1925
Goof Bowyer 1926–1928 Captain 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 1927 Member of "Phantom Four" backfield of 1928 which led the nation in scoring. National Football League player. [20]
Speedy Walker 1927 University 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

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Doug Dickey
Steve Spurrier
Danny Wuerffel
Jesse Palmer
Rex Grossman practicing with the Washington Redskins.
QBs in 2007. Tebow is on the right. Brantley in the center.
Kyle Trask

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

Name Years Started Notability References
Sam Davis 1933 The 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 1934 2nd-team All-SEC. [25]
Ken Eppert 1935 [26]
Bill Stephens 1935
Bob Ivey 1936 His backup was Tiger Mayberry. [27]
Ed Manning 1936
Paul Brock 1936
Jack Blalock 1937–1938 Replaced Brock. [28]
Tex Hanna 1939 [29]
Bill Latsko 1940–1942 Grandfather of Billy Latsko. [30]
Buddy Carte 1944 From Tampa. He was in the backfield with UF Hall of Fame member Bobby Forbes. [31]
Earl Scarborough 1945 From Jacksonville, he later coached the freshman team. [32]
Billy Parker 1946 Wendell "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. [33]
Angus Williams 1947–1949 Led the "Golden Era" teams which defeated Georgia in 1949. He was later a well known insurance executive in Tampa. [34]
Haywood Sullivan 1950–1951 University 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 1952 University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame; played multiple running back positions.
Doug Dickey 1952–1953 Climbed 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 Allen 1954; 1959
Bobby Lance 1955
Jimmy Dunn 1956–1958 University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Larry Libertore 1960–1962 University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Tom Batten 1961
Tom Shannon 1962–1964 University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Steve Spurrier 1964–1966 Coached 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 Eckdahl 1967-1968 After 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 1969–1971 First-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 1972 Current offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. Former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills.
David Bowden 1972–1973
Don Gaffney 1973–1975 He 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 Fisher 1975–1976
Bill Kynes 1976 Son of James W. Kynes. University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. Ended football career early to become a Rhodes Scholar.
Terry LeCount 1977
Tim Groves 1978–1979
John Brantley, III 1978 Father of John Brantley.
Tyrone Young 1979
Johnell Brown 1979
Larry Ochab 1979–1980
Bob Hewko 1980–1982 Recruited 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 1980–1983 University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Kerwin Bell 1984–1987 SEC 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 1986 Also played on Gator baseball team; spent four years with the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball.
Kyle Morris 1988–1989
Herbert Perry 1988 Also 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 Smith 1989
Donald Douglas 1989 Transferred to the University of Houston.
Shane Matthews 1990–1992 Led 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 1993–1994 Threw six touchdowns passes against Louisiana-Lafayette. [38]
Danny Wuerffel 1993–1996 Led 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 1995 Transferred to Marshall University, where he threw to Randy Moss. National and Canadian Football League player.
Doug Johnson 1997–1999 Florida–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 Brindise 1997 Started his career as a walk-on.
Jesse Palmer 1997–2000 ESPN college football analyst. Contestant on ABC's The Bachelor. NFL player.
Rex Grossman 2000–2002 Consensus 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 2001 Transferred to Miami.
Ingle Martin 2003 Transferred to Furman. Spent four seasons with five different NFL teams 2006-2009, played for New York of the UFL in 2009.
Chris Leak 2003–2006 Led the Gators to the 2006 BCS National Championship, also named MVP. Florida career leader in passing yards (11,213).
Tim Tebow 2007–2009 Part 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 2010–2011 Son of John Brantley, III. [44]
Jacoby Brissett 2011–2012 Transferred to North Carolina State.
Jeff Driskel 2012–2014 Transferred to Louisiana Tech. Drafted and signed by the Boston Red Sox but never played professional baseball. [45]
Tyler Murphy 2013 Transferred to Boston College. [46]
Skyler Mornhinweg 2013 Son of Marty Mornhinweg. Transferred to Columbia. [47]
Treon Harris 2014–2015 Transferred to Tennessee State in 2016. [48]
Will Grier 2015 Suspended for PEDs. Transferred to West Virginia.
Luke Del Rio 2016-2017 Son of Jack Del Rio. Transferred from Oregon State. Offensive quality control coach in the NFL for Washington.
Austin Appleby 2016 Graduate transfer from Purdue.
Feleipe Franks 2017-2019 Transferred to Arkansas.
Malik Zaire 2017 Graduate transfer from Notre Dame.
Kyle Trask 2019–2020 Started 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 2021 Transferred to Arizona State.
Anthony Richardson 2021–2022 Played in rotation with Emory Jones in 2021. Drafted #4 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
Jack Miller III 2022 Transfer from Ohio State. Started the Las Vegas Bowl.
Graham Mertz 2023 Transfer from Wisconsin.
Max Brown 2023 Transferred to Charlotte.
DJ Lagway 2024

References

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  1. ^ "The First Game With Rollins". The University News. November 9, 1906. Retrieved July 15, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ McEwen 1974, p. 42
  3. ^ "Football Game". Stetson Weekly Collegiate. Vol. 21, no. 3. November 26, 1908.
  4. ^ a b "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 icon
  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.
  13. ^ "Florida Squad Puts One On Alabama Men". The Wilmington Morning Star. November 12, 1921. p. 7. Retrieved September 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ "Heavy Florida Team Batters Down Tulane's Defense and Wins, 27-6". Atlanta Constitution. November 19, 1922. p. 3. Retrieved August 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ^ "Harvard Subs Find Florida Team Easy". The New York Times. November 5, 1922. p. 26. Retrieved August 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. ^ Norm Carlson. "2006 Florida Football Media Guide" (PDF). p. 124. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  17. ^ Christopher J. Walsh (2006). Where Football Is King: A History of the SEC. Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 60.
  18. ^ "Gators Drown Rollins Tars". St. Petersburg Times. October 5, 1924.
  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 icon
  21. ^ "Gator Working For Big Game". St. Petersburg Times. November 3, 1927.
  22. ^ a b c d e 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.
  23. ^ "Georgia's March Toward Gridiron Honors Checked". Kingsport Times. November 2, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved September 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  24. ^ "Quarter Captains Gators". Montana Butte Standard. August 13, 1933. p. 8. Retrieved August 18, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  25. ^ "Hittin the High Spots". The Evening Independent. December 21, 1934.
  26. ^ "Gator Coach Tries Two Backfield Combinations for Game Here". The Miami News. November 27, 1935.
  27. ^ "Mayberry, Ivey Versatile Men". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 24, 1936.
  28. ^ "Blalock Replaces Block for Gators". The Evening Independent. October 29, 1937.
  29. ^ Joseph P. Grandfield (October 13, 1939). "B. C. Faces 'Gators In Fenway Debut Holiday Afternoon". Boston College Heights. Vol. 19, no. 31.
  30. ^ "Billy Latsko profile". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  31. ^ "Carte and Forbes Star For Gators". The Evening Independent. October 9, 1944.
  32. ^ "Scarborough Hired At Florida". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. January 28, 1960.
  33. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  34. ^ "Great Teams and Eras: The Golden Era". August 17, 2006. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  35. ^ Norm Carlson, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, p. 61 (2007).
  36. ^ Robbie Andreu & Pat Dooley, "No. 2 Steve Spurrier," The Gainesville Sun (September 1, 2006). Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  37. ^ "How UF's Don Gaffney broke quarterback color barrier, Auburn jinx – as Auburn comes to play again". October 10, 2011.
  38. ^ "Uf's Dean A Contrast To Ex-qb Matthews - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  39. ^ "Danny Wuerffel".
  40. ^ "9 UF Greats Join Hall Archived 2012-09-13 at the Wayback Machine," The Gainesville Sun (September 10, 2012). Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  41. ^ Robinson, Joshua (December 8, 2007). "Tim Tebow First Sophomore to Win Heisman". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
  42. ^ "Gator Football Roster/Bios". Gatorzone.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  43. ^ CHIP ENGLISH/Correspondent. ""SEC Football by the Numbers: Tim Tebow and the SEC record book" - Mobile Press-Register, January 29, 2010". Blog.al.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  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

[edit]
  • McEwen, Tom (1974). The Gators: A Story of Florida Football. Huntsville, Alabama: The Strode Publishers. ISBN 0-87397-025-X.
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