Jeff Driskel ran all over Vanderbilt last season.
The then-sophomore quarterback threw for only 77 yards but ran for 177 — including a 70-yard touchdown scamper — in Florida’s 31-17 victory in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 13, 2012.
The Gators utilized the read option to perfection in the victory, accruing 326 rushing yards.
More than a year later, the Commodores (4-4, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) are traveling to Gainesville. The only thing stopping offensive coordinator Brent Pease from running the option again is his own lack of options. Pease and the Gators (4-4, 3-3 SEC) are dangerously thin at quarterback.
UF already lost its starting quarterback for the season when Driskel suffered a fractured right fibula against Tennessee on Sept. 21.
Since then, Florida has been riding redshirt junior Tyler Murphy’s right arm to both victory and defeat. After three consecutive wins with Murphy at the reigns, the Gators have dropped three straight games to SEC opponents.
Murphy has successfully run the option this season, but every time he holds onto the ball, Florida risks losing another quarterback.
“You don’t want him (running),” Pease said. “He’s taking a lot of hits.”
It is a tough balance to strike. Murphy has proved valuable when he is on the run.
Against Georgia, he rushed for 28 yards, gaining 56 yards total but losing 28 to sacks.
In the fourth quarter, the redshirt junior rushed two consecutive plays, gaining 39 yards and scoring a touchdown to bring the Gators within three points of the Bulldogs — the closest they came to tying the game.
“Sometimes, if I see a lane or something like that, I’ll try to break down things with my feet if they have good coverage in the back end,” Murphy said Monday.
However, Pease hesitates before sending his quarterback running toward the defense.
When Driskel ran the Commodores to death last season, he had Jacoby Brissett backing him up. Brissett battled Driskel for the starting job for the entirety of fall camp and had experience from his freshman season.
But now, Florida’s backups have no experience.
Behind Murphy is redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg. The second-year backup has never played a snap of college ball — much like Murphy entering this season.
Pease said Mornhinweg — who entered the season as the third-string signal-caller — has been receiving practice reps to prepare him for game action.
“You’ve got to kind of get him in rhythm within the game,” Pease said. “You probably won’t know that until — a lot like with Tyler — you’d be in the same sense as when Tyler came in when Jeff got hurt.”
Despite Mornhinweg’s lack of experience, Pease said he has confidence in the young quarterback.
Mornhinweg was a three-star recruit with a 4.68 40-yard dash time, according to Rivals.com.
But despite solid speed for a quarterback, Pease said Florida would have to change its strategy if the redshirt freshman came into the game, which has looked more likely in recent weeks.
Murphy has already had to play in pain this season.
He suffered a sprained right shoulder against LSU on Oct. 12, and after playing against Missouri on Oct. 19, he took a week off from throwing to rest his shoulder.
“In Missouri, I was in a lot of pain,” Murphy said. “It might have affected me a little bit.”
The redshirt junior said his shoulder is back to full strength, and he will likely be off and running against Vanderbilt. But all it takes is one hit to sideline Murphy for the season alongside Driskel.
“You got to be careful and protect him a little bit,” Pease said.
Added Murphy: “I usually try not to take off unless there is a reason.”
Follow Adam Lichtenstein on Twitter @alichtenstein24.
Georgia junior safety Corey Moore (39) tackles redshirt junior quarterback Tyler Murphy (3) during Florida’s 23-20 loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.
