Jacoby Brissett needs to make a decision.
The sophomore quarterback can stay at Florida and continue to back up Jeff Driskel, or he can transfer and have two years to try to capitalize on the potential that made him the No. 3 quarterback recruit in the 2011 high school class, according to Rivals.com.
“I’m sure that might come up at the end of the season, and you know, selfishly I hope it doesn’t,” offensive coordinator Brent Pease said of a possible Brissett transfer. “But I support the kid either way.”
Brissett attempted 35 passes across five games in 2012, racking up 249 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
He started in place of an injured Driskel in UF’s 23-0 win against Jacksonville State on Nov. 17, completing 14 of 22 passes for 154 yards.
“He’s a special kid and handled the situation well and has done a good job when he had an opportunity,” Pease said. “That’s a situation I’m sure we’ll cross in some point in time.”
Wildcats pass on Pease: Pease was not Kentucky’s first choice for its head coaching vacancy, but he was on the Wildcats’ radar.
“There was just a minimal conversation,” Pease said. “It probably never materialized as much as everybody thought. I think they had a plan, and I wasn’t plan A. Maybe I wasn’t plan B, I don’t really know.”
Kentucky filled the void by hiring FSU defensive coordinator Mark Stoops on Nov. 27.
Pease, who was named UF’s offensive coordinator on Jan. 10, spent two seasons as UK’s offensive coordinator in 2001-02.
Pease said he has not interviewed for any coaching vacancies this season.
“I’m not going to leave after one year,” Pease said. “I made a commitment. … If that situation is right and I’m doing a good job, maybe some day my opportunity is going to come. If not, like I said, I’ve worked to be in a very good spot with very good people.”
Debose stepping forward: After being vilified in September for poor practice habits, Andre Debose was praised by Pease on Tuesday.
Early in the season, coach Will Muschamp said Debose had been absent from Florida’s offense due to poor practice habits and a failure to provide consistent effort. Debose has since bucked those trends.
“He’s had really good practices,” Pease said. “He’s healthy, he’s working hard and his attitude is right. He’s done some good, and we’re trying to get him involved in some things. He’s refocused, and hopefully he’s a guy that continues doing what he’s doing and you’ll see him out there.”
Since entering UF as a five-star recruit and the No. 2 wide receiver in the 2009 high school class, according to Rivals, Debose has been a disappointment.
After catching 16 passes for a team-leading 432 yards and four touchdowns in 2011, Debose made only two receptions for 11 yards in 2012. Debose has missed the past four games after suffering a hyperextended knee in practice on Nov. 1.
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
Sophomore quarterback Jacoby Brissett announced his intention to transfer from the Florida Gators.
