Emory Jones impressing Dan Mullen with play as Florida quarterback

Quarterback Emory Jones is entering his fourth season in the Florida Gators program. He has not gotten a chance to be Florida’s starting quarterback yet, but that is going to change this season. So far, Jones has really impressed Florida head coach Dan Mullen in preseason camp.

Jones has maintained a positive mindset even with limited playing time in his career

While he has gotten occasional opportunities with Florida, Jones was stuck behind former starting quarterback Kyle Trask the past couple of years. Now, Trask is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jones is set to take over as Florida’s starter. In limited action over three years, Jones has completed 64 percent of his passes for 613 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. The most dangerous part of Jones’ game is his ability to create plays with his legs. On 92 attempts, Jones has run for 514 yards and six touchdowns for Florida.

Despite minimal playing time, Jones has continued to work hard throughout his career. That is something that has impressed Dan Mullen.

“I think he’s approached everything very well,” Mullen said of Jones. “But he’s approached things great since he’s been here. He’s always a guy that is open, is learning, willing to adapt, willing to adjust to the role he’s in and learn how to grow and continue to grow through different roles. I think he’s been able to do a really good job at that. You do that and you see how everybody approaches things and you approach things the right way, which he has through his whole career.”

As he takes over as Florida’s starter, Jones has shown a great grasp of the offense

There are high expectations on Jones as he becomes a starting quarterback. As Florida transitions, Jones has shown that he is capable of running the offense and is learning how to grow inside of it.

“I think he has a really good grasp,” Mullen said. “He obviously has a really good grasp of the offense. He’s been around for a couple years. I think it’s getting into more of how to function, how to use the offense. Constantly on accuracy, balance, making all these different types of throws that he needs to make. And then his comfort level in how to make plays and when to make plays. We limit some of that in practice, then we’ll be like, ‘Hey, you have the freedom to scramble today.’

“There will be days I won’t give him as much freedom. Like, ‘You have got to stand in the pocket.’ And then you actually have to coach beyond that. Say, ‘Hey, I hope you would have scrambled in this situation, I mean there’s a huge running lane to go take advantage of.’ But we give him a lot of different things and I think his grasp of the offense is really good. It’s now getting him prepared in every situation how to be the best playmaker he can be.”