COLUMBIA , MO - OCTOBER 10: Jim McElwain head coach of the Florida Gators leads members of team into Memorial Stadium for warm ups prior to a game against the Missouri Tigers on October 10, 2015 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jim McElwain

BREAKING: Jim McElwain names a starter at quarterback for season opener

Florida will hold its first scrimmage this Friday.

After months of speculation, Florida football has finally found a starting quarterback. On Thursday afternoon, Florida head coach Jim McElwain formally announced that sophomore Luke Del Rio would be starting under center for Florida's opener against UMass on Sept. 3.

"Luke is going to work as the starter the rest of camp and start in the season opener barring any unforeseen development,'' McElwain said via an official release. "Our other quarterbacks remain in the plans and are ready to move forward and help the Gators any way they can."

The news isn't all that surprising — Del Rio was presumed to be the front-runner for the job after the spring game when he went 10-for-11 for 176 yards and two touchdowns in the Orange & Blue Debut in April. Del Rio was in Gainesville last season, but he sat out a season ago after transferring from Oregon State.