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Florida coach Jim McElwain has announced that redshirt sophomore Luke Del Rio will be the Gators starting quarterback in their season opener against UMass on Sept. 3.

Del Rio had been battling with Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby and freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask for the starting job in camp. He will now work as the starter with the first team for the remainder of fall practice into the team's first game.

"Luke is going to work as the starter the rest of camp and start in the season opener barring any unforeseen development,'' McElwain said via a school release on Thursday. "Our other quarterbacks remain in the plans and are ready to move forward and help the Gators any way they can."

Del Rio will step into the void left by Will Grier and Treon Harris, the two quarterbacks that started games for the Gators in 2015. Both Grier and Harris transferred out of Gainesville, Florida, this offseason, Grier after being suspended a calendar year by the NCAA for use of a banned substance.

Here are three things to know about Del Rio and Florida's decision.

1. He's well-traveled ... Del Rio was at Alabama in 2013 as a walk-on before transferring to Oregon State in 2014. When coach Mike Riley left the Beavers for Nebraska, Del Rio transferred again, this time to Gainesville, where he sat out the 2015 season per NCAA transfer rules. He originally went to UF as a walk-on but has since been awarded a scholarship.

2. ... but doesn't have much game experience. Del Rio's only collegiate experience as a quarterback was at Oregon State where he completed 8-of-18 passes for 141 yards in reserve duty in 2014. In Florida's spring game, Del Rio went 10-for-11 for 176 yards and two touchdowns, emerging from spring practice as the heavy favorite to land the starting role.

3. Del Rio has shoes to fill, just not big ones. The Florida passing game took a significant step back in 2015 after Grier's suspension. Grier had led the Gators to a 6-0 record, completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 1,204 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Harris, who split time with Grier in the opener, took over and was not as efficient or effective, completing only 50.6 percent of his passes for 1,676 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions in 2015.

Considering Florida has seen six starting quarterbacks transfer since 2011, the expectations aren't necessarily great for Del Rio. McElwain and the Gators hope that Del Rio can limit mistakes and give them a capable passing attack all season, something they did not have to close 2015 despite hanging on to win the SEC East division title.