Muschamp makes it official: Jeff Driskel Florida's starter at QB

Will Muschamp made official what most of us already knew.

The Florida head football coach said Jeff Driskel would be the Gators starting quarterback at his Monday press conference.

It wasn’t a surprise to anyone who watched Florida’s 27-14 Victory over Bowling Green last Saturday.

After Driskel and Jacoby Brissett split most of the first half, Driskel played the entire second half.

Driskel took 20 snaps in the first half and Brissett was under center for 11 snaps.

In playing Driskel the entire second half, Muschamp said he needed a more mobile quarterback in the lineup .

Well if he feels that way against Bowling Green you can imagine what he fears when the Gators start their SEC schedule, which happens to be this weekend at Texas A&M.

Driskel didn’t overwhelm anyone against Bowling Green and the two quarterbacks threw only 21 combined passes.

 “I just feel that Jeff with his legs gives us some different variables in our offense that can help us as we move forward,” Muschamp said. “It’ll be Jeff’s game to play. I told Jeff, I don’t want you looking over your shoulder, but you need to play well.

 "I have confidence in both guys. (We) can win with both guys. I just felt like at this time it's good to move forward with naming one guy and go with it."

As expected, Brissett was not happy with the decision and Muschamp said he respected those feelings.

“I’ve said it before and I will say it again, we can win with both guys,” Muschamp said. “He (Brissett) is one snap away. Jacoby needs to continue what he is doing.”

 

 

Jacoby Brissett gets start over Jeff Driskel for Gators against Auburn

The Florida quarterback controversy has officially begun.

It was launched Friday morning when Gators head coach Will Muschamp announced Jacoby Brissett (left #17) would start Saturday at Auburn.

Jeff Driskel, the heir apparent to John Brantley and anyone else, is said to be healthy after sitting out last week’s loss to LSU with an ankle injury.

It’s still too early to anoint anyone a permanent starter and incumbent John Brantley could be back for the Georgia game on October 29^th after the Gators bye week.

Brissett completed 8 of 14 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown against LSU, which was considered impressive because he was for all and intents and purposes going to redshirt this season.

There were little details about why Brissett will start and there could be several reasons, including Driskel’s ankle not being one-hundred percent, thought the coaches said he was fine.

It gives credence to the argument that Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis really liked the 6-3, 239 Brissett and recruited him hard even though Driskel was committed and considered by many to be the front runner for the job in 2012 if not before.

Weis said Driskel was fine this week and shared snaps with Brissett. For the season, Driskel is 7 for 16 for 73 yards and has thrown two interceptions without a touchdown.

Expect Jeff Driskel to start for Gators, but Jacoby Brissett could finish

Just about everyone associated with the University of Florida football program expects Jeff Driskel to be the starter against LSU, but that's where the certainty ends.

It might surprise some that true freshman Jacoby Brissett is listed as the backup going into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff game. Afterall, he joined the team late, doesn't have near the knowledge of the offense as redshirt freshman Tyler Murphy and the coaching staff doesn't want him to burn a year of eligibility.

But Brissett is a talent, which is a reason offensive coordinator Charlie Weis went after him with Driskel already in the Gator fold.

A team can never have enough running backs and that might be true for quarterbacks. But Brissett is no slouch in the talent department.

It's anybody's guess how Driskel will fare against the AP's number one team whose defense is right up there with Alabama. And Driskel tweaked his ankle a little in last week's loss to the Crimson Tide, though Gators head coach Will Muschamp says it's nothing to be concerned about.

Driskel will be the fifth true freshman quarterback to start for the Gators in their long history. Three of the other four had good careers (Wayne Peace, Jesse Palmer and Chris Leak).

Peace, Palmer and Leak recorded victories in their inaugural starts, but none faced an opponent as formidable as this year's LSU team, which ranks third nationally in rushing defense and ninth in total defense and scoring defense, allowing less than 13 points per game.

Whoever the quarterback, he is going to need help from the run game and the way Florida played against Alabama that is expecting a lot. Running backs Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps are quick as lighting, but small. Alabama's quickness negated their speed and reduced them to less than mediocre because of their lack of power.

Some believe LSU has a quicker defense than Alabama and the Tigers are nearly as effective against the run, allowing only 3.8 yards per carry against a tougher schedule so far.

Gator fans are hoping for a little deja' vu. In 2003 with Leak as the true freshman starting quarterback, Florida went into Baton Rouge and upset the Tigers 19-7. But realistically expecting someone as untested as Driskel to come up with a similar performance and an over-matched Gator defense to hold LSU to seven points is asking quite a bit to say the least.

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 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.