Jim McElwain talks QB battle, confirms former player is now on staff

Jim McElwain met with the media Friday and gave an update on the Gators’ quarterback battle.

He said the three quarterbacks battling for the top spots – Feleipe Franks, Malik Zaire and Luke Del Rio – will get equal reps in Friday’s scrimmage.

“The better each does, the more snaps he will get,” McElwain said.

When asked if there was a front runner for the spot, he could not give a clear answer.

Mac asked if there’s a QB frontrunner “It’s tough to say” #Gators

— Andrew Olson (@ByAndrewOlson) August 18, 2017

Jim McElwain: "You're never competing against anybody. You're competing against yourself."#McElwainism

— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) August 18, 2017

McElwain also confirmed that former Florida defensive back Ahmad Black is now a student assistant coach on the Gators’ staff.

Black played safety for Florida from 2007 to 2010, and was part of then-head coach Urban Meyer’s 2008 national championship squad. He then spent three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being released in 2013.

Thank you to @UniversityofF and coach @CoachMcElwain for this amazing opportunity! Let's get another championship. Go Gators!

— Ahmad Black Sr. (@ahmadblack35) August 18, 2017

“We’re excited that he’s back to get his degree,” McElwain said. “He knows what it takes to win.”

Cody McClure

Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.