Danny Wuerffel popularized it.
Rex Grossman accomplished it most often in program history.
Tim Tebow put a stamp on his historic career by doing it.
Since then, a Florida quarterback passing for 300 yards in a single game has occurred stunningly few times.
Since the beginning of the 2010 — John Brantley's first year as starting quarterback — the Gators have thrown for 300 yards in a game just once: Brantley's 16-for-28 performance for 329 yards in a 54-32 victory against Furman on Nov. 19, 2011.
To put that in perspective, Grossman threw for 300 yards or more 17 times during his career. Tebow, also no stranger to eclipsing the benchmark, threw for a program-record 482 yards in his final collegiate game.
Junior quarterback Jeff Driskel has never thrown for 300 yards in a game. His career best came last season against Tennessee when he completed 14 of 20 passes for 219 yards.
Second-year offensive coordinator Brent Pease still believes Driskel could become a consistent 300-yard passer while at UF.
“He has the ability to do it,” Pease said. “He has the ability to do it in this system. He has the ability to do it off his skills.”
If Driskel is to develop into the type of prolific passer Florida became best known for during the Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer eras, a significant improvement will be required.
Including his performance against Tennessee, Driskel passed for more than 200 yards just twice last season — the lone other occurrence coming a week later against Kentucky.
In fact, Driskel failed to pass for 100 yards four times last season — UF won each game — en route to Florida finishing last in the Southeastern Conference and 118th out of 124 teams nationally by averaging 146.3 passing yards per game.
“It’s more throwing the ball over the top, just stretching the field vertically, which we need to do,” Pease said of what must improve. “That’s route running, accuracy with the ball, protection at times, and there’s a lot that becomes involved in it.”
Florida returning to its heyday of spreading the field and taking deep shots is unlikely to return. As Pease said, “Our game is going to be wear them down up front.”
But for the Gators to develop a more balanced offense than the one that often lagged last season, creating an aerial attack will be critical.
“We’re gonna have to hit more big plays,” Driskel said at UF’s media day. “We can’t run the ball 50 times a game like we did last year at points. We’re still gonna run the ball effectively … but we do have to make more plays throwing the ball.”
The biggest key to an improved passing game will be Florida’s ability to create explosive plays through the air. The Gators had only 28 pass plays of 20 yards or longer last season. Twelve went 30 yards or more.
Without Jordan Reed, whose athleticism made him Driskel’s favorite target, the Gators will rely on a committee of tight ends and receivers to replace his production. Tight end Clay Burton said he is confident with what he has seen at this point in camp.
“Watching the film, the quarterbacks have more reads and the guys are more open because of the spacing, concepts of the routes and things like that,” Burton said.
Contact Phil Heilman at pheilman@alligator.org.
Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel (6) attempts a pass over the Tenneesee defense during a 37-20 victory against Tennessee on Sept. 15 at Neyland Stadium.
