With the 2014 Gators football season just 10 days away, all eyes are on Kurt Roper and his new offense in Gainesville.
Perhaps something fans are even more anxious for is the return of quarterback Jeff Driskel. Roper says despite the harsh criticism quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference face, it’s up to Driskel to not get into his own head.
“There’s one guy in this world that can take Jeff Driskel’s confidence from him and that’s Jeff Driskel,” Roper said. “It’s not me as a coach. It’s not anybody else. And if he will buy into that and believe that, now you got a mentally tough guy that can go play the game.”
Behind Driskel, the battle for the backup spot is between two early enrollees— Treon Harrisand Will Grier. At this point in fall camp, there is no separation between the two, although both are very talented. The two came in as the Nos. 1 and 2 ranked dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2014 class, respectively.
In Roper’s last season at Duke, the Blue Devils used two quarterbacks throughout the season in Brandon Connette and Anthony Boone.
Roper says Florida will use two quarterbacks this year “if they earn it”. He adds that there is no real timeline on when that determination will be made.
“We got to start on who’s going to spend the time getting the two reps as much as possible,” Roper said. “But you never know how it’s going to be fluid throughout the year.”
The running back corps for Florida is the deepest it has been in Muschamp’s four seasons in Gainesville. It returns redshirt senior Mack Brown, as well as 2013 All-SEC Freshman team member Kelvin Taylor. Junior Matt Jones is fully healthy for the first time since his freshman year in 2012. Roper is no stranger to implementing rushing offensive success — at Duke last season his Blue Devils rushed for 178 yards per game, their highest average since 1977. Roper says he’s looking forward to having talented options this season.
“I believe if a guy earns the right to play, you've got to find a way to play him some,” Roper said. “It doesn't mean maybe he plays the whole game, but we need to be prepared to use all our weapons. And really all we want to do is score points. Who is capable of scoring? I think those guys getting the football are good with it in space."
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Florida offensive coordinator Kurt Roper during practice on Thursday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
