When Jeff Driskel committed to Florida, he probably did not expect to make his first start at wide receiver.
But after a position battle with fellow 2011 class member Jacoby Brissett, Driskel lined up at wideout for the first play of the 2012 season.
He didn’t stay there for long, as he moved back to quarterback after the first play of the game. Following Florida’s 27-14 win against Bowling Green, Driskel was named the starting quarterback.
This year, the starting job is firmly in his grasp.
“It’s his football team,” coach Will Muschamp said at Southeastern Conference Media Days in Hoover, Ala., on Tuesday.
Muschamp said he thinks Driskel improved drastically in the offseason and has grown as a player.
“(Driskel) certainly understands what we’re doing offensively much better than a year ago,” he said. “(He’s) a guy I’m really excited to see play.”
Last year, Driskel’s offensive line had trouble protecting the first-year starter. He was sacked 36 times, including eight sacks in Florida’s game against Texas A&M on Sept. 8.
“That’s one of the big things we’re working on this summer is pass protection,” redshirt senior guard Jon Halapio said.
Driskel said that leadership grew from spending more time with the team and growing older. He said he didn’t “want to step on anyone’s toes” as a first-year starter in 2012, but this year he’s ready to take the reigns.
“I’d say the guys respect me a lot more this year,” he said. “I’ve opened my mouth a lot more and just being around the guys, it just comes with it. You don’t flip a switch; it grows.”
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Jeff Driskel (6) fires a pass over FSU’s Demonte McAllister (97) during UF’s 37-26 win on Nov. 24. Driskel is expected to be UF’s starting quarterback.
