He grew up here, running across the turf, watching his father coach, learning about this game called football.
Saturday, Luke Del Rio returns to Jacksonville.
This time, he gets to play.
Del Rio, the son of former Jaguars’ coach Jack Del Rio, brings his Florida Gators in to play against Georgia. Florida is 5-1 on the year and ranked No. 14 in the polls.
Del Rio’s father coached his team in Everbank Stadium last week and won.
“Hopefully, the Del Rio family can go 2-0,” Del Rio told the Orlando Sentinel.
As often as the younger Del Rio has been inside the stadium, Saturday will be a new experience for him.
“I’ve never actually been inside for a Florida-Georgia game,” Del Rio said. “I’ve seen it pretty much every year. It will be really exciting to participate in such an historic event.”
Del Rio threw three interceptions in the Gators’ win over Missouri. For the year, he has a rating of 127.29.
“I’m learning a lot every game,” Del Rio said. “I kind of have to pinch myself sometimes because
I remember in high school I would just pray in bed just let me play football at some level in college.’ And I’m the starting quarterback of the Florida Gators.”
Florida coach Jim McElwain said that, despite the interceptions, Del Rio played “pretty darn good” against Missouri.
The Georgia game begins at 3 p.m.
