When Jeff Driskel enrolled at Florida last January, the nation’s top-rated high school quarterback was lost during spring practice; he admittedly had no idea what he was doing.
One forgettable freshman season and a new offensive coordinator later, Driskel said he feels much more comfortable as he battles fellow sophomore Jacoby Brissett for the Gators’ starting job.
“Any time you get any experience, you’re going to be a lot more comfortable,” Driskel said. “I came in not knowing too much… kinda just throwing the ball around. But [Wednesday’s] practice I felt a lot more comfortable.”
Both Driskel and Brissett spoke to the media Thursday for the first time since arriving on campus last year, and while both were tight-lipped about who took the first snap of spring practice, wide receiver Quinton Dunbar wasn’t as secretive, saying Driskel got the first rep.
Although the sophomore signal-callers are splitting time within the offense, and coach Will Muschamp said he has no timetable for naming a starter, Wednesday’s practice marked a step forward for Driskel, who struggled mightily during his freshman campaign but will get a clean slate under new offensive coordinator Brent Pease.
Despite battling through spring practice last year, Driskel entered the 2011 season No. 2 on the Gators’ depth chart behind redshirt senior John Brantley. He made his collegiate debut against Florida Atlantic, completing 4 of 6 passes for 42 yards and an interception in second-half garbage time.
But nearly a month later, when Brantley sprained his ankle at the end of the first half against Alabama, Driskel was called upon and looked just as lost as he said he was in the spring.
“I want to say that I was calm, but I’d be lying,” Driskel said. “I was a little nervous. It was a big stage; I should have been more prepared.”
Driskel vows he will be more prepared this year, adding he is more mature and finally comfortable with the offense, which is remaining largely the same under Pease apart from tweaked terminology and more shifts and pre-snap motions. First, Driskel must beat out Brissett, who took over the backup job following the Alabama game and looked far more poised running Florida’s offense than Driskel did in his limited action.
“To be honest I wasn’t (nervous),” Brissett said. “I mean, throughout practice I kind of like put myself in situations in my head like if it was a real game, and when I went out there I don’t think I felt anything.”
Brissett finished out the season as the backup, even earning time as the Gators’ goal-line quarterback when Brantley’s ankle was still recovering. Neither quarterback put up impressive numbers as freshmen, but regardless of results, Muschamp said the experience both gained last season will pay dividends moving forward, and he sees the intangibles both need to be great quarterbacks.
“I’ve said it before: Unfortunately they played for us [last] year; fortunately they played for us [last] year,” Muschamp said. “It’s two-fold. It’s not an indictment on either young man. I think they’re really good players, but playing as a freshman at that position is different. It’s different than any other position.”
Contact Tom Green at tgreen@alligator.org.
Sophomore quarterbacks Jeff Driskel (pictured) and Jacoby Brissett spoke to the media Thursday for the first time since enrolling at UF. The two are splitting reps in practice in what’s being called an open competition for the starting role.
