Florida quarterback Emory Jones ready for spotlight

Florida quarterback Emory Jones is ready to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight this season. Used primarily as a gadget player behind Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask in his first three seasons, Jones is now set to take over the offense as its full-time quarterback.

Things have not always been easy for the former four-star recruit from Franklin, Georgia. When Franks left the program, there was a competition for the starting job, which eventually went to Trask. But Jones decided to stick it out as the change of pace quarterback, rather than transfer.

“It has been hard, but it’s all been for a reason,” Jones told the Associated Press during an interview. “That’s what I’ve realized over the past years. I have been playing a little bit, so that keeps me going. I’ve just been watching the guys in front of me do their best and watching how they move and how they operate and it’s definitely just helping me.”

Transition to starter

Emory Jones has been on the field plenty throughout his career, perhaps as much as any backup in the country. Head coach Dan Mullen has implemented special packages and utilized his multi-faceted quarterback in key spots before.

However, the coach and the player understand this year will be different. As the full-time quarterback, Jones will have different responsibilities and face new challenges.

“I think he understands it,” Mullen said Monday. “You look at his playing time and experience throughout the years. Everybody says this will be his first time playing the first play of the game, but to say he hasn’t played in a lot of big moments in a lot of different games, big difference.”

More than a runner

Emory Jones might be known as a dual-threat quarterback to the rest of the world, but to Florida running back Dameon Pierce, he’s something else.

“I don’t like to call Emory a dual threat because most people like see Emory break and see him run,” running back Dameon Pierce said. “I call Emory a mobile pocket passer because this guy, he can launch that ball.”

Recognizing it is easy to dismiss the statement from a running back, Pierce doubled down.

“That’s probably the most underrated aspect of his game,” said Pierce. “He can launch the ball! He wants to throw the ball first. He only runs when there’s absolutely nothing there or pressure comes and he’s got to get out the pocket. I feel like Emory brings a lot to the table this year.”