Report: Florida QB Jeff Driskel considering transfer to Duke
Beleaguered Florida QB Jeff Driskel is considering a transfer to Duke, multiple outlets are reporting.
According to The News Observer, Driskel sent a release to the Blue Devils, allowing coach David Cutcliffe and the staff to contact him. Driskel could play immediately due to the graduate transfer rule, and Duke needs a quarterback as current starter Anthony Boone is a senior.
Driskel spent the 2014 season working with offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, a long-time Cutliffe assistant who brought Duke’s offense with him to Gainesville.
For a quarterback who has worked with three offensive coordinators during his college career, some semblance of familiarity — and the chance to escape the contaminated environment at Florida. Driskel became a symbol for the team’s struggles under since-resigned coach Will Muschamp, as the team’s offenses labored even during an 11-win 2012.
The redshirt junior quarterback started the season opener the last three seasons for the Gators, but the former five-star recruit from Oviedo (Fla.) High School never developed into a good SEC player. Driskel broke his leg early last season, contributing to a spate of Gators injuries on offense, then threw nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions in 2014 while losing his starting job to Treon Harris.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound redshirt junior would be competing with Harris and redshirt freshman-to-be Will Grier. New Florida head coach Jim McElwain just announced Doug Nussmeier as offensive coordinator. Nussmeier served in the same position at Alabama as recently as 2013 and at Michigan under Brady Hoke this season.
It’s early and Nussmeier’s system should be a bit more pro style, but Harris probably will enter spring practice as the frontrunner if Driskel transfers.