How a Walk-On Has Emerged in Florida's Backup QB Competition

Graduate transfer and walk-on Micah Leon has taken on a meaningful role in Florida's quarterback room this fall, a year removed from being out of college football.

Photo: Micah Leon; Credit: Zach Goodall

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- About a year ago, Micah Leon was looking into his options for his post-playing career. 

At that time, then entering his sixth year of college, Leon was without a football team. Formerly a walk-on at North Carolina State, Leon had transferred to Connecticut on scholarship in 2019, but left the Huskies after the 2021 season and their hiring of Jim Mora as head coach. 

With just one collegiate appearance and 13 passing attempts under his belt, suitors failed to line up for Leon's services last offseason. He spent the 2022 campaign out of football. 

Now, he's fighting for the role of backup quarterback at Florida. 

Leon joined Florida's football roster as a graduate transfer and preferred walk-on in January, as All Gators first reported. The fallout of class of 2023 quarterback Jaden Rashada's UF recruitment led head coach Billy Napier to secure another passer, as the position would have otherwise been undermanned entering offseason practices. 

"First of all, the guy's an experienced player. He's played some football in the past," Napier described of Leon on Saturday. "Micah's a guy who wanted to go to graduate school at the University of Florida, had aspirations considering coaching to some degree. 

"So, [he's] a guy that brought a lot to that room. I think we're always looking for guys like him."

Like most walk-ons, Leon was originally viewed by outsiders as a practice arm and nothing more upon his enrollment at Florida. His absence from the game in 2022 only solidified that thought. 

However, the Delray Beach (Fla.) American Heritage B/D product from the class of 2017 has ascended in recent weeks during Florida's fall training camp.

Ultimately, Rashada — and reclassified 2025 signal-caller Austin Simmons, for that matter — bailing on their commitments left Florida short-handed on scholarship passers this year. With only three on the team, Leon had been one injury away from seeing an uptick in reps in practice.

Such an event has occurred. 

Redshirt sophomore Jack Miller III has been unable to participate since day 11 — nursing tendinitis in the rotator cuff of his throwing shoulder, per Napier — resulting in elevated responsibilities for Leon and redshirt freshman, scholarship passer Max Brown in Miller's absence. 

Leon has risen to the occasion, Napier suggested. 

"Micah has proved to be very effective," Napier shared. "He's smart, he's a student of the game. Guy throws a really good ball, and man, these scrimmages, he just has moved the ball right down the field every time. So, Micah's done a really nice job."

QB Micah Leon to TE Hayden Hansen. Leon’s reps have increased without Jack Miller III available near the end of #Gators fall camp. pic.twitter.com/gmypvoY4br

— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) August 18, 2023

Napier officially made redshirt junior Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz Florida's starting quarterback last Friday, but has continued to assess the competition behind Mertz for the primary backup position. 

Brown and Miller have widely been regarded as the main contestants. But in addition to Miller's shelving, Napier admitted on Aug. 3 that Brown must continue to "catch up" on the mental aspects of playing the position, given his mere three years of experience playing quarterback in total.

Having taken advantage of the opportunities provided to him this year, paired with the current reality of Florida's quarterback situation, Leon is now firmly involved in the battle for those duties. 

"We've given him some reps and he's made the most of those reps," Napier said. "I would say that we're giving him reps for a reason and we'll see where that goes." 

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