Florida QB Luke Del Rio 'highly doubtful' to play at Vandy

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio is ''highly doubtful'' to play Saturday at Vanderbilt.

Coach Jim McElwain won't rule Del Rio out against the Commodores (2-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference), saying ''I'm still not going to count him out.''

Del Rio injured his left knee against North Texas and sat out Saturday's 38-28 loss at Tennessee . Fifth-year senior Austin Appleby, a graduate transfer from Purdue, is expected to make his second straight start for the 23rd-ranked Gators (3-1, 1-1).

McElwain says Del Rio won't practice Monday but ''we'll try to ease him a little bit on Tuesday, keeping him involved in the game plan.'' Del Rio traveled to Knoxville, suited up and signaled in calls from the sideline. McElwain says Del Rio ''was really good for our team. ... He's a valuable piece of this.''

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AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org