Jeff Driskel lied writhing in pain at the 47-yard line.
Trainers tended to the quarterback who just threw a pick-six in UF’s Southeastern Conference home opener against Tennessee.
Defensive lineman Marlon Walls beat left tackle D.J. Humphries on a speed rush before tackling Driskel from behind. The quarterback threw a crossing pattern to Demarcus Robinson that cornerback Devaun Swafford slid under for an easy touchdown.
With two team personnel members at his side, Driskel walked off on a broken leg, his season done.
“I couldn’t contribute to the team like I wanted to. I didn’t really feel helpless. Discouraged, I would say, but not helpless. It was tough,” Driskel said. “You know, you work in the whole offseason for the season and then you’re excited for it. You think you’re going to play well, and the next thing you know, it’s gone.”
Driskel admittedly wasn’t playing well. The offense grew stagnant. Three turnovers against Miami had people restless. Thirteen turnovers in his previous eight games didn’t make it better.
Although the now-transferred Tyler Murphy played well against mediocre SEC competition, it became clear the Gators needed Driskel under center. Florida had its worst quarterback play in decades with Murphy and Skyler Mornhinweg limited in the offense.
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It’s a new year. Driskel is healthy. Florida is a new team offensively. Offensive coordinator Kurt Roper took over for Brent Pease, who focused more on complex pre-snap motions from under center. Roper spent the last five seasons at Duke. His work will be on display in the spring game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The Gators have hurried up the offense, limited the pre-snap action and created more space on the field. Kelvin Taylor said the scheme better fits UF’s quicker running backs. Tight end Tevin Westbrook liked how the position is featured more in the passing game. The offensive linemen have enjoyed the challenge of adjusting to a quicker pace.
For Driskel, the offense is similar to the shotgun spread he ran at Hagerty High School in Oviedo, where he became the nation’s No. 1 high school quarterback. He’ll run more read-option plays, departing from the Gators’ more conventional approach last season.
Roper doesn’t see any problems with his inherited quarterback, who joins a lineage of signal callers — Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Thaddeus Lewis — who have worked with him and mentor David Cutcliffe.
“Jeff is capable of running really any offense you ask him to run, because I think he is a guy that, again, possesses the ability to throw the football, and if you do that you can play in really any style offense,” Roper said. “I think you just see change in college football more and more, and everybody is trying to be more explosive offensively. If you’re going to try to be more explosive, space is obviously a friend to (the) offense.”
There will be explosive plays, Roper reassured on Thursday. All of which will start with Driskel, who dropped 15 pounds this offseason. Roper, a detail-oriented coach, wants his quarterbacks to get the ball out of their hands in less than 2.8 seconds. That will get playmakers the ball, help the offensive line protect its quarterback and fatigue the defense.
“My sophomore year at Maryland, we did an up-tempo offense. It really does tire the defense out so much. You get to the second and third series and they’re not even pass rushing anymore,” center Max Garcia said. “We haven’t even scratched the surface yet and we’re doing some big things.”
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Those things are a hot topic some nights in Driskel’s house. He made flash cards to go over plays with roommate, offensive lineman Trip Thurman. He also lives with punter Kyle Christy and former lineman Tommy Jordan.
“I don’t think there’s a time when he’s not thinking about football honestly,” Thurman said. “He’s always looking at film in the office with coach Roper.”
Saturday will be Driskel’s first game in nearly seven months since the injury against Tennessee. A photo in a March ESPN story showed his right calf atrophied after getting his cast off six weeks following the injury. The recovery was grueling. Sitting in every quarterback meeting not being able to play was worse.
It is just the spring game, but there will be one difference from his last time in The Swamp: Driskel will be running.
Follow Adam Pincus on Twitter @adamDpincus
Jeff Driskel throws a pass during Florida’s 38-0 win against Kentucky at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sept. 22, 2012. Driskel is the first-team starter at quarterback.
