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Florida to start Austin Appleby at QB in 2017 Outback Bowl, says Jim McElwain

Florida will start Austin Appleby at quarterback in the 2017 Outback Bowl, and expects to have Luke Del Rio available to back him up, Jim McElwain said Thursday — dashing the hopes of Florida fans who wanted to see freshmen Feleipe Franks or Kyle Trask throw passes against the Hawkeyes.

McElwain says QB Austin Appleby will play in Outback Bowl and he expects Luke Del Rio to be available so he won't burn a redshirt on Franks.

— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungSEC) December 8, 2016

Appleby took over as Florida’s starter twice in 2016, after injuries to Del Rio knocked him out of the Gators’ win over North Texas and kept him out of Florida’s home finale against South Carolina.