Quarterback trainer evaluates Del Rio after weekend at camp

During the week off from school before Summer A classes began at UF at the start of this week, Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio made his way out to California - the home state of his father, Jack, who serves as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

However, Del Rio certainly made good use of his time in the Golden State this past week.

He was one of a handful of college quarterbacks to participate at the Summit’s first camp in Orange County, Ca., last Saturday and Sunday with accomplished quarterback developers Jordan Palmer and Quincy Avery. Throughout the weekend, Del Rio trained alongside Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs, Baylor’s Jarrett Stidham, Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes and Arizona State’s Brady White as each aimed to hone their craft.

"Everybody's going to take a little piece from somebody else's game for what they want to improve," explained Avery. "That's what's so cool about it. You get a gathering of some of the best quarterbacks in the country. Everybody has something that they do to allow them to be who they are. You want them to grab a little piece of that for every other guy, whatever that thing is. We got to hang out, have some camaraderie and enjoy each other's company and watch some film and play some ball."

After all six college quarterbacks went through their first day of instruction at the Summit, they served as counselors for the high schoolers in attendance the next day, according to Avery.

"That just increased their understanding of the information," Avery said. "If you can teach something, they really, really know it. We think that's a very important part of the Summit."

As far as what Avery saw from the 6-foot-1, 213-pound Del Rio, who currently stands as the favorite to win UF's starting quarterback job heading into the fall, he came away impressed with what the Gators signal-caller brings to the table.

"I think Luke came in with a very specific goal that he wanted to improve on - kind of keep that between us, but he came in with a very specific goal for the things that he wanted to improve on as well as things that the coaching staff at Florida wanted him to improve on," said Avery, who has been familiar with Del Rio since his high school days but trained with him this past weekend for the first time.

"I think he developed a good bit as a passer and his ability to perform this upcoming season at UF. I was really impressed. His body has changed, for one. I know Luke since he was in high school and he's made a few other stops, but it looks like he has put in the dedication to being where he's supposed to be at the University of Florida. His ability to make throws is right up there with any of the other college guys, so you know he has the capacity to do that. Just was really impressed as a whole with who he is and who he's developed into and the things that he's capable this upcoming fall."

Looking at Del Rio's greatest strengths as a quarterback after evaluating him closely, Avery pointed to Del Rio's knowledge of UF's offensive schemes and his ability to read opposing defenses.

"I think that's going to put him in a situation where he can be really, really successful," explained Avery. "The understanding, it was next level kinds of things where he knew the detail, when he would explain what would be happening at Florida this year between the protections to being able to get in and out of things as far as checks. His understanding of the playbook is going to help him more than anything, but I think he developed the most this week in terms of being able to throw with touch. That's something that he did, and I think he got a lot better at that."

Avery pointed to consistency as one area where Del Rio still has room to grow.

"He just needs consistency with his footwork. If he can do that, he takes some time to hone in on that this upcoming summer, I think he can have a really special year in the SEC," Avery said. "He continues to develop. I think he does a lot of things really, really well. The things that he has to fix are really small issues - it's kind of nitpicking in terms of fundamentals. He has to fix, maybe bring in his base a little bit - being consistent with his base at all times."

A few intangibles about Del Rio that stood out to Avery this past weekend, though, were the Gators quarterback's confidence and willingness to gather new information.

"Undoubtedly, he's got a ton of confidence, and he's earned that confidence," Avery said. "Not only does he have confidence, but his ability to take in information. I think a lot of times when you're the son of a football coach, you get a lot of information at a young age and you start to think you're maybe above other people providing you things. But Luke isn't like that at all. He's always seeking more knowledge. I think that's unique coming from his background."

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