Miller Time: Jack Miller will start the Las Vegas Bowl for Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators will have a new starting quarterback when they hit the Las Vegas strip. Ohio State transfer Jack Miller will make his first start for the Gators.
“Jack Miller probably three, four, five weeks ago was cleared from the thumb injury. He’s back. He’s been able to take reps and certainly this week in particular he’s been able to take a bunch of reps,” head coach Billy Napier said of Miller. “Him to go along with Kyle Engel, Max Brown those three guys will take the majority of the reps today, tomorrow, and obviously when we get to the Oregon State prep.”
Miller will earn the start after Anthony Richardson declared for the NFL Draft and announced that he will skip the Las Vegas Bowl in order to prepare for the draft.
Miller enrolled last spring and challenged Richardson for the starting role during the offseason. He didn’t win the competition but did secure the backup role. Those plans were altered with a thumb injury in fall camp. Following a necessary surgery, Miller was scheduled to return in late September, but instead required additional recovery time to re-establish the grip strength to hold and throw a football.
When Miller was able to return to the field, he was behind Richardson and Jalen Kitna. Kitna has since been dismissed from the team following an arrest on child pornography charges.
Florida will head to Las Vegas with just two scholarship quarterbacks and a walk on in Kyle Engel available.
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Miller getting his first starting opportunity
While his rehabilitation following thumb surgery took away a chance to play in the regular season, the Gators will now turn to Miller for their final game in 2022.
Miller struggled during Florida’s spring game, finishing 13 of 23 for 123 yards and an interception. It was the first and last game action we’ve seen from Miller in Orange and Blue.
“He’s perfectly healthy. You’ve got to remember, Jack joined us back in the springtime, right? So he went through spring practice and summer and the majority of training camp as the No. 2. And he was the No. 2 for a little bit early in the year,” Napier said. “While he was rehabbing, we’re very intentional about keeping those guys engaged. He’s traveled with us. He’s went through the process of prepping each week, watching the cut-ups, all those things at the end of the week from a test and tips standpoint, so he’s been through the prep for a game. Obviously the volume of work will be a little bit different for him. That’ll be the biggest challenge.”
Now, he’ll be tasked with leading the Gators who will try to avoid back-to-back 6-7 seasons.
His teammates have expressed their confidence in him.
