In less than a month, the heavyweight bout begins on the Florida practice field.
Jacoby Brissett vs. Jeff Driskel.
This is the most talked about, most anticipated quarterback battle at Florida in quite some time.
Both
were highly decorated high school players. Both saw playing time as
true freshmen in 2011. Neither separated themselves from the other in
the spring, where they shared reps with the No. 1 offense from start to
spring game.
Brissett and
Driskel will enter preseason camp on the first weekend in August
dead-even in the competition for the starting role. UF coach Will
Muschamp has said the Gators can win with both quarterbacks and both
could end up playing in the fall, but he also said the No. 1 goal is to
establish who the starter is before the Sept. 1 opener against Bowling
Green.
A titanic battle looms.
Here is the tale of the tape for the two quarterbacks:
JACOBY BRISSETT
Year: Sophomore
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 229 pounds
High school: Palm Beach Dwyer
Rivals rating: Four stars
Rivals ranking: No. 3 dual-threat QB
Overall ranking: No. 75 nationally
Also considered: Miami, Wisconsin
Sr. season passing: 2,743 yards, 32 TDs
Sr. season rushing: 368 yards, 7 TDs
Games played at UF: Eight
Games started: Two
2011 passing: 18-39, 4 ints., 206 yards, 2 TDs
2011 rushing: 13 carries, 7 yards, 2 TDs
Spring game passing: 9-16-0, 233 yards, 2 TDs
Positives: Big-time arm, composed
Negatives: Tends to force some throws
JEFF DRISKEL
Year: Sophomore
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 232 pounds
High school: Oviedo Hagerty
Rivals rating: Five stars
Rivals ranking: No. 1 pro-style QB
Overall ranking: No. 32 nationally
Also considered: Alabama, LSU, Tennessee
Sr. season passing: 1,819 yards, 15 TDs
Sr. season rushing: 1,333 yards, 20 TDs
Games played at UF: Five
Games started: None
2011 passing: 16-34, 2 ints, 148 yards, 0 TDs
2011 rushing: 16 carries, 18 yards, 0 TDs
Spring game passing: 12-14-0, 147 yards, 0TDs
Positives: Strong arm, very athletic
Negatives: At times, leaves the pocket too soon
What they're saying
Brissett:
“It's great. I love it. Coming out every day competing against the No. 1
quarterback in the country a couple of years ago. … It don't get no
better.”
Driskel: “We're friends. We won't let the rivalry ruin that.”
Muschamp:
“Both those guys throw the ball extremely well. They're both really
good athletes and both guys can create some off-tempo plays for us as a
football team. As I've said before, we can win with both.”
