Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby will start at quarterback for Florida on Saturday against South Carolina, Gators Jim McElwain told reporters Wednesday.
Appleby replaces injured starter Luke Del Rio, who the coach said earlier this week would be out "a while" after suffering a shoulder injury Saturday against Arkansas.
McElwain added that true freshman Feleipe Franks would be the backup against the Gamecocks.
"I know this," McElwain said of Franks, "We're not afraid of playing him at any point."
Kyle Trask, another true freshman, would be the emergency No. 3 quarterback.
Appleby started twice this season when Del Rio was out with a sprained knee, displaying a strong arm and good mobility in splitting two road games, a 38-28 loss Sept.