Last Monday was supposed to be “Decision Day” for the Gators, as Will Muschamp would release the season-opening depth chart. He decided to delay the decision for a week so he could further evaluate his players.
Today, Muschamp is expected to finalize his depth chart for Saturday’s game against Bowling Green.
However, on Friday, Muschamp said one position battle would not be settled before the Gators take the field against the Falcons: quarterback.
Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel will split time under center against Bowling Green.
Both quarterbacks impressed the head coach enough in fall practice that he wants to see each in game action before naming one as the starter for the Texas A&M game in Week 2. Muschamp said he might wait until Wednesday or Thursday to announce a starter for the opener.
“They both deserve the right to play,” Muschamp said Friday. “They’ve earned that and they both deserve the right to start. They both have had really good camps.”
Muschamp added that both quarterbacks have been completing about 63 percent of their passes in scrimmages. It was following the second scrimmage that Muschamp knew Brissett and Driskel would both play in the opener.
“We’ve tried to put them in tough situations and they’ve both handled it well,” Muschamp said. “As we work into competition on game day, we’ll see if there is some separation.”
In order to simulate a game-day atmosphere for the quarterbacks, Muschamp said the team has practiced on a 40-second play clock for all of fall practice. He has also instructed offensive coordinator Brent Pease to signal play calls late to help teach Driskel and Brissett how to handle hectic situations when the play clock is winding down.
The head coach met with the quarterbacks before meeting the media on Friday and said their reaction to the news was positive.
Muschamp said he and Pease would decide closer to game day exactly how they will rotate the two quarterbacks. He also said that Driskel, who has been bothered by a shoulder contusion, is still non-contact, although the injury has not affected the position battle.
“Both guys are very even and our football team’s got great confidence in both of them,” Muschamp said. “I told both of them today, the last position I’m worried about is quarterback. I feel very comfortable about both guys.”
Injuries will affect the offensive line depth chart for at least the first game, as redshirt junior right tackle Matt Patchan will miss the opener with a strained pectoral muscle.
On the other side of the line, James Wilson has been taking first-team reps at left guard next to first-string left tackle Xavier Nixon and center Jonotthan Harrison.
Defensively, there are four cornerbacks in the mix to start, including Marcus Roberson, Loucheiz Purifoy, Cody Riggs and Jaylen Watkins.
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn says the team will run nickel packages enough that all will see the field, and he has confidence in each of them.
“I kind of had a feeling it would work itself out,” Quinn said of the cornerback competition. “It usually does through the course of the season.”
Contact Josh Jurnovoy at jjurnovoy@alligator.org.
