Josh Heupel will have three quarterbacks to choose from when UCF hosts Stanford in the biggest game of the Knights’ season on Saturday. Earlier today, Heupel announced that Darriel Mack Jr. had been given the go-ahead to return by UCF’s medical staff, and that he would be available when the Cardinal come to Orlando.
#UCF head coach Josh Heupel said QB Darriel Mack Jr. began to practice at the end of last week and has been cleared to practice this week ahead of Saturday's matchup against Stanford.
— Jason Beede (@therealBeede) September 9, 2019
Mack has been sidelined for the last two months after sustaining a broken ankle in early July. Mack was expected to be UCF’s starter coming into the 2019 campaign after replacing McKenzie Milton late last season when Milton suffered a career-threatening injury in the Knights’ final regular season game.
In his first career start, Mack racked up more than 400 total yards and six touchdowns in a 56-41 win over Memphis in the AAC Championship Game. He didn’t fare as well against LSU in the Fiesta Bowl, but there were high hopes for the sophomore entering his second season.
If Mack were to get the start on Saturday, he would be the third different UCF quarterback to start for the Knights this season. Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush started the opener against Florida A&M, going 12-23 for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Wimbush was banged up in the win though, leading to UCF starting freshman Dillon Gabriel last week against Florida Atlantic.
Gabriel was not very accurate against the Owls, but he connected on some big plays in a 48-14 win. He went 7-19 for 245 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, averaging a whopping 35 yards per completion.
The Knights might be facing a back-up quarterback on Saturday. Stanford starting QB KJ Costello did not play against USC last weekend because of a concussion, leading to Davis Mills getting the start in his absence. Mills went 22-36 for 237 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a Stanford loss.
H/T Orlando Sentinel
