Florida's young QBs take center stage this spring with Luke Del Rio sideliend

Del Rio started six games for the Gators in 2016

Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio will miss all of spring practice this year, taking time off to recover from offseason shoulder surgery.

Del Rio went 5-1 as a starter for the Gators in 2016, battling through a sprained knee and the shoulder injury before getting shut down for the season. Austin Appleby took over, leading Florida to the SEC Championship Game (a 54-16 loss to Alabama) and then a 30-3 Outback Bowl win against Iowa.

According to Florida, Del Rio underwent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. The transfer quarterback -- by way of Alabama and Oregon State -- finished the season 114-201 (56.7 percent) passing for 1,358 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.

With Del Rio sidelined, the Florida quarterback snaps will be divided up between Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask, both redshirt freshmen, and early enrollee Kadarius Toney.

The plan to redshirt Franks and Trask as true freshmen in 2016 was always built into the idea that they'd compete for starter's snaps in 2017, so this doesn't create a problem for the Gators staff as much as it increases the reps up for grabs on the field. Should Franks, Trask and Toney fail to stand out this spring, Del Rio would have his opportunity to retake the job in the fall, when freshman Jake Allen will also join the program.