Emory

Jones

The Falcons signed Chark in late July and are now parting ways with him after nearly a month. The veteran receiver totaled 31 receiving yards and one touchdown last season with the Chargers and has struggled to replicate the success he enjoyed in 2019 when he broke out for 73-1008-8. Now an official journeyman of the league, Chark will be looking for his fifth team in four seasons. In addition to releasing Chark, the Falcons also waived/injured QB Emory Jones (concussion) and signed QB Ben DiNucci.

As reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Jones (6'2/211) is going from The Swamp to The Desert with two years of eligibility remaining. Last season, Jones split snaps with quarterback Anthony Richardson, and opted to transfer back in mid-March after Richardson appeared to have the inside track on the starting job at Florida this year. Jones brings an athletic profile to Arizona State, and should have a chance to start after Jayden Daniels transferred to LSU this offseason. Through four seasons, Jones has thrown for 3,347 yards, 26 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, while also rushing for 235-1273-10.

Jones (6'2"/211) indicated a couple of months ago that he intended on leaving Florida despite finishing out the season which included playing in their bowl game. Jones was given the starting job coming into the 2021 season, but as the season progressed, Anthony Richardson started to get more involved till it became virtually a 50/50 split. He certainly has the mobility to extend plays, but his biggest problem during the season was throwing to the other team. Transferring later might hurt his chance of coming into a program and getting a starting job, but the raw talent he possesses will have teams interested.

In what may have been Jones’ (6'2"/211) final game at Florida, the junior signal-caller fell flat for the Gators as he overthrew and underthrew receivers for the majority of the afternoon, in a game that some viewed as a potential audition for him in front of a UCF team that he is considering joining following his entrance into the transfer portal. Jones failed to find the end zone through the air and on the ground, but did manage to rush 10 times for an additional 62 yards. Jones’ 2021 season finishes with 2,734 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, along with 143 carries for 758 rushing yards and another four touchdowns.

Jones (6'2"/211) began the season as the QB1 for Florida, but as he began to struggle, Anthony Richardson saw more opportunities and it became almost an even split at one point. There are no details on why he decided to leave, it could be because of the playing time, but also the coach that recruited him was fired a few weeks ago. Jones is a dual-threat that has shown the ability to move the ball with his arm and feet, his 2,563 passing yards and 697 rushing yards show that. He should have no problem with schools banging on his door to come to play for them.

Earlier reports had Jones (6'2/211) out for the game on Saturday after he rolled his ankle in practice on Monday. Jones looks like he is ready to go after returning to practice on Wednesday. With the change going on in Florida, which included the firing of Dan Mullen, it’s not sure how the team will handle the quarterback situation. Jones and Anthony Richardson have split time under center this season in an offense that hasn’t necessarily been successful. We may not know how the Gators will deal with this situation until the game itself.

Jones (6'2/211) struggled against Missouri last Saturday, with the Gators dropping the game in overtime for their sixth SEC loss of the season. The loss resulted in the firing of Florida HC Dan Mullen, with Florida’s string of bad luck continuing as Jones rolled his ankle during Monday’s practice which is calling his availability this weekend into question. If he cannot go, the junior signal caller will finish the season with 2,400 passing yards, an 18-to-10 TD/INT ratio, 673 rushing yards and four scores on the ground. Anthony Richardson will get the starting nod if Jones cannot suit up against the Seminoles.

Jones (6'2/211) struggled for most of the day against a Missouri defense that entered the week ranked No. 118 in the nation, as neither team scored a touchdown in the first half. He ended the game completing 20 of 32 passes for 261 yards, including a 49-yard connection with Jacob Copeland to set up the game’s first touchdown, and added 45 rushing yards on 17 carries. But the highlight of his day came as a receiver after he caught a pass from WR Trent Whittemore on a trick play in the first overtime period to give Florida a brief 23-16 lead. Missouri responded with a win and a game-winning conversion, walking off with a 24-23 victory while sending Florida to its sixth conference loss this season. Jones will look to regroup next week, as Florida now needs to beat rival Florida State at home in the season finale to reach bowl eligibility.

It’s been a QB carousel for Florida this year, but that seems to be done for this season at least. Jones started the year as QB 1 before getting replaced by Anthony Richardson, who was knocked out by injuries, leaving Jones to resume his starting role last week against South Carolina. Florida was blown out in that one, leaving a door open for Richardson to return, but coach Dan Mullen saw enough from Jones against Samford to declare him the starter for Missouri and beyond. Jones set Florida’s total yardage record once held by Tim Tebow, gaining 550 total yards and throwing for six touchdowns and running for a seventh. It was against arguably THE worst defense in all of college football, but you play the competition you get and it’s not Jones fault Florida’s defense couldn’t stop Samford. It’s been a brutal season for the 5-5 Gators, but maybe the offensive explosion was what they needed to get back on track.

While the Gators struggled to stop Samford all day, but the struggles for the Gators had nothing to do with offense. Jones (6'2/211) had one of the best days of any quarterback on the season, as he carved up the Bulldogs defense all afternoon. Jones was confident in the pocket and spread the ball around, completing passes to nine different receivers and five different players caught touchdowns. With the Gators defense allowing an NCAA record 52 points to an FCS school, it was good that Jones put up 70. The Gators take on Missouri next Satuday.