After three weeks of fall camp, coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper are still undecided about who will backup Jeff Driskel at quarterback this season.
Freshmen Treon Harris and Will Grier are the expected frontrunners for the No. 2 spot. However, Muschamp said Friday that three players are still in competition, which would mean redshirt sophomore Skyler Mornhinweg is still in the running.
“All three of those guys have done a nice job and all three of those guys bring good things to the table and we just need to make the best decision for Florida,” said Muschamp, who is entering his fourth year at UF.
The coaching staff was scheduled to meet Sunday night to have “lengthy discussions” about the backup position.
On Friday, Muschamp said he would like to take out Driskel by the second quarter of Florida’s opener against Idaho on Saturday in order to give the No. 2 quarterback meaningful reps early in the year, which Muschamp did in 2011.
On Sept. 3, 2011, John Brantley started Florida’s opener against Florida Atlantic but was replaced by then-backup Driskel with 6:04 remaining in the second quarter. However, after Driskel threw an interception in his first collegiate pass attempt, Muschamp went right back to Brantley to finish the half.
Driskel re-entered the contest midway through the fourth quarter when Florida had a decisive 38-3 lead.
Starting offensive guards undecided: Trip Thurman, Trenton Brown and Tyler Moore are still in competition for the two open guard positions.
Muschamp announced Friday that Max Garcia will start at center and D.J. Humphries and Chaz Green will start at left and right tackle, respectively.
David Sharpe, who missed all last week with a high-ankle sprain, and Rod Johnson are expected to see time on the line on Saturday.
Juco transfer Drew Sarvary has taken reps at center throughout fall camp and possibly will provide Garcia with relief against Idaho.
Garcia, a redshirt senior, played left tackle and guard last season but made the switch to center after the Gators lost Jonotthan Harrison to graduation. The Maryland transfer had never played center before in his playing career and it showed during spring ball when he struggled getting off the snap.
However, new offensive line coach Mike Summers has worked with Garcia throughout fall camp to improve his delivery to Driskel in the shotgun formation and it seems to be paying off.
“There's no question he was the right guy for the job,” Muschamp said. “He's very decisive in his decision-making. He is off the charts intelligent and a guy that has really done a nice job through camp snapping it. (He) had struggled a little bit there early in spring, but I think he's done a fantastic job.”
Receiver rotation: Roper said the Gators could implement a six-man rotation in the wide receiving corps for 2014, but Muschamp said that might depend on both the opponent and the weather.
“It's pretty hot here, and it's going to be hot next Saturday,” Muschamp said. “I don't care if it's at 7 o'clock or not.”
Quinton Dunbar, Ahmad Fulwood and Demarcus Robinson are expected to start on the outside regardless of the type of the rotation Muschamp and Roper use.
Latroy Pittman Jr., Andre Debose, Chris Thompson, Valdez Showers and C.J. Worton are all battling for playing time in the slot.
Michael McNeely was awarded a scholarship Friday, but the redshirt senior will play mostly special teams rather than line up at receiver.
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Freshman quarterback Treon Harris remains in contention for the UF backup quarterback position along with fellow freshman Will Grier and Skyler Mornhinweg.
