GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida is looking for a new quarterback yet again this spring, and while the competition is ongoing, this time there's a very public favorite to win the job.

Coaches and players alike have raved about redshirt sophomore Luke Del Rio, who sat out the 2015 season after transferring from Oregon State. Del Rio was careful not to step on any toes a year ago while he was ineligible to play due to NCAA transfer rules, but teammates and even former teammates have seen a big change since spring practice began.

"He did a good job of going about it quietly while he wasn’t able to be playing," said former tight end Jake McGee, who has watched a couple spring practices, including Florida's scrimmage on Saturday.

"Now that he is cleared and ready to go he’s done a good job of extending that leadership and making it a little more vocal to really show guys the right way to get it done."

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McGee is gone and won't get to play with Del Rio, but the praise he offered speaks for itself.

"He’s a dude I would want to play with," McGee said. "He’s got a lot of those qualities you would want as your quarterback and as a leader of the football team. I think he’s just a guy that does things the right way. He works hard. He’s somebody that puts the time in."

Those are all things that second-year coach Jim McElwain has also noted in naming Del Rio the current leader in the quarterback battle.

McElwain, of course, recruited Del Rio at both Alabama and at Colorado State. He ultimately missed out, leaving Alabama before Del Rio decided to walk on there in 2013. Del Rio later transferred to Oregon State for the 2014 season, before coming to Florida in 2015.

But the same qualities that stood out about him to McElwain as a prospect are still there, on full display this spring.

"I think one of the things that I love about him is he's kind of a gym rat type of guy," McElwain said. "You can tell he obviously grew up around the game. He's a guy who enjoys watching film. Around the guys he does a great job as a leader. I think there's a lot of intangibles there. Not only is he a good quarterback, but just the qualities you want at that position. You can tell he spent a lot of time around the game."

Del Rio's father is Jack Del Rio, the current coach of the Oakland Raiders. The elder Del Rio was at practice Wednesday watching his son compete for the job.

After practice, the younger Del Rio spoke to the media for the first time. It didn't take long for reporters to realize why Del Rio is so well-liked by his coaches and teammates.

He humbly deflected praise and reiterated that the quarterback battle remains open and he's just trying to do whatever he can to help the team, including coaching up a pair of freshman quarterbacks on a college campus for the first time.

"I think it’s an open competition," Del Rio said. "We’re all competing for the job. We’re all doing everything we can do in our power to earn the starting job. I’ve been here, but I don’t think that makes me above or No. 1 right now. I have to earn it."

If there's one thing the younger guys can pick up from Del Rio, it's that gym rat mentality McElwain praised.

"Always in the film room, always in there trying to learn something new," starting center Cameron Dillard said. "With his dad being the coach from the Oakland Raiders, that’s helped him out a lot being football-oriented, learning plays and knowing everything and being in that film room extra."

While Del Rio doesn't have the biggest arm on the team -- he described both freshman quarterbacks as being "very, very arm talented" -- he knows what to do with the football.

Even defensive players have come away impressed in practice.

"You can tell. He’s real comfortable back there," senior safety Marcus Maye said. "He’s making his reads right away, good passes. He has a great feel for what’s going on back there."

Del Rio just hopes to finally get on the field and show what he can do. After three years at the college level, he hasn't played a whole lot in live-game situations.

"I haven't played here, but I do have experience running some of the plays," Del Rio said. "As far as making protection changes with the offensive line and understanding adjustments of the routes, it's more of a knowledge of the offense than anything.

"The longer you’re in a system the more comfortable you are. The timing of the plays, that’s what playing the position and football is all about, you’re comfortable and confident in what you’re doing. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been in this offense for a year or two. I’m getting more and more comfortable every day."

At least one current player has had the chance to watch Del Rio live, though. Senior receiver Ahmad Fulwood competed against Del Rio in high school when both lived and played football in Jacksonville.

While Fulwood's team won, he said he came away impressed with Del Rio's leadership and ability to keep his team fighting and trying to come back in the game.

He knows exactly what Del Rio could be for the Gators.

"I think he can be special," Fulwood said. "He’s smart. He’s accurate. He can put air under the ball. I like the way he plays."

If Del Rio can be the answer at quarterback and finally stop the revolving door at the position in Gainesville, something tells us Florida fans will too.

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