Was Brissett the real winner in Florida Spring Game?

Jacoby Brissett might have come out Florida’s spring game in better shape than any of the quarterbacks and he didn’t even suit up. Actually he is still in high school, but that wouldn’t stop anyone from believing he had better day than true freshman Jeff Driskell.

Driskell, the anointed next Tim Tebow until Charlie Weiss arrived, completed two of six passes for 13 yards and missed some open receivers. You can contribute those numbers to lack of experience, but did anyone feel he is ready to step in and take control of the offense?

Tyler Murphy, the Gators redshirt freshman and other backup quarterback, seemed more poised completing 7 of 11 passes for 68 yards with a touchdown and got picked off once. He has speed and athleticism and showed his arm might be stronger than a lot of people think.

Gators head coach Will Muschamp made it clear that John Brantley is the starter going into next season, but his numbers were a dismal 4 of 14 for 45 yards in one half of work.

In fairness to the quarterbacks, the Gators offensive line was missing a lot of parts and more running backs were out than played. However, if you’re Brissett your 0 for 0 passing stats for 0 yards looks a lot better than any of the three quarterbacks you will be battling in fall practice.

Quarterback situation at Florida still very unclear

Florida is apparently still up there in the running for quarterback Jacoby Brissett, which means the Gators situation at the most important position in football is far from settled.

The Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer High signal caller has narrowed his list down to four and Florida is reportedly among the finalists with Miami, Wisconsin and Washington.

With the Gators appearing to be happy with early enrollee Jeff Driskel it would seem the last place Brissett would want to come would be Gainesville. But he has met with Gators new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis more than a few times sparking speculation that the quarterback situation is wide open.

Of course as an early enrollee,Driskel would have a significant advantage over Brissett, particularly if returning senior John Brantley can’t hold onto the job, assuming it’s his to lose in the first place.

This is the last weekend before signing day and it has been reported new Miami head coach Al Golden is going full blast to corral Brissett, though the 6-5, 225 pounder is not revealing anything.

Miami has senior Jacory Harris returning along with sophomore Stephen Morris, who started the last four games. Florida has the beleaguered Brantley and even if he was able to gain the starting job next season it would be his last.

While Brantley and Driskel put up great numbers in high school none had a better interception-ratio than Brissett, who threw 32 touchdowns passes with only one interception.

A standout basketball player, Brissett could be wooed to Miami because he has been told he could play both sports for the Hurricanes.

Another name you hear about in conversation about the Florida quarterback situation is Rutgers’ Tom Savage.

Remember Savage? He earned All-American honors in 2009 as a freshman and lost his starting job last season. He asked for his release, but Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano only granted it conditionally.

It has been reported that Savage wants to talk with Florida and Miami and Schiano won’t allow that. He has filed an appeal with Rutgers that would allow him to talk with those two schools.

Quarterback situation at Florida could get even more crowded

Everyone in Gainesville seems to be talking about whether John Brantley or freshman Jeff Driskel will be the quarterback next season, that that hasn’t stopped new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis

from searching for more signal callers.

Weis met recently with Palm Beach Dwyer quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who at 6-5, 225 pounds has the size to match Driskel and Brantley.

Brissett has been offered by many of the top notch programs in the country, including Florida’s SEC rivals Alabaman, LSU and South Carolina. It was reported in some circles that he was leaning towards FSU but after meeting with Weis that could be change

ESPN ranks Brissett the best uncommitted quarterback available and compares him to former LSU standout JaMarcus Russell.

ESPN says Wisconsin could be the favorite if Brissett decides to leave the state of Florida where Miami is making a strong pitch under new coach Al Golden.

If Brissett goes to Florida it appears Weis sold him on the idea that nothing is etched in stone for the heralded Driskel.

Blakely could surge up Florida's depth chart with Weis

Mike Blakely worked hard to graduate early and enroll at Florida so he would be available for spring practice and hopefully get on the field next season.

It appears to be the best move the Manatee High running back could make. He will be there when Charlie Weis installs his new pro-style offense and get an opportunity to showcase his talent.

There is already speculation it won’t take Blakely long to move past Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps on the depth chart because he fits the offense Weis want to run while Demps and Rainey were more suited to spread offense used by former coach Urban Meyer.

Manatee High Hall of Fame coach Joe Kinnan says Blakely is better suited for a pro style offense because he is a strong downhill runner and a very good receiver out of the backfield.

He is strong running between the tackles, which Weis likes to see in his running backs and is said to be more elusive than Mike Gillislee.

The 5-9, 190 pound Blakely is believed to be built better for the pro-style offense because of his compact build and ability to reach top speed quickly with excellent lateral moves.

He fits Weis’ desire to recruit bigger backs because they fit better into his downhill running attack that usually make smaller backs like Rainey and Demps less effective.

Brantley still not sure if he will return to Gators

Florida’s beleaguered quarterback John Brantley says he is glad Charlie Weis is coming to the Gators and will install a pro-style offense. However the junior says he still not sure he wants to return.

Brantley has told media outlets he and some family members want to sit down with Weis and see what the quarterback’s role might be in the new offense.

It’s not a surprise that Brantley admits he was not happy and didn’t fit into the spread offense run by Gators former head coach Urban Meyer who stepped down this year after six seasons.

Brantley will have to be patient, depending on how things go Weis, who is the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs and will remain with them depending on how long their playoff run lasts.

The Gators are thin at quarterback and the future (at least down the road) appears to rest with incoming freshman Jeff Driskel from Oviedo Haggerty High. The 6-4, 230 pound pounder was named the 2010 Maxwell Football Club’s National High School Player of The Year earlier this week. He is a mid-winter enrollee and will be available for this year’s spring practice.