Help Wanted: Florida Gators Searching for a Leader at Quarterback

Tim Tebow’s final home game as the Florida Gators quarterback was played in the fall of 2009. Since that time, the Gators football program has failed to find an identity at the quarterback position.

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Heading into this season, the Gators and new head coach Jim McElwain are in the same boat – no solidified starting quarterback, a new offense and a lack of identity and leadership. Since Tebow’s departure, the team that was once a perennial Southeastern Conference contender has tried a multitude of different players at the quarterback position.

Over the past five years the Gators have been increasingly underwhelming and have a 21-19 record in SEC play. But what has been the issue ailing the mediocre UF leaders under center? A couple things immediately come to mind: coaching changes, injuries and most recently, legal issues.

Coaching changes – After the 2010 season, coach Urban Meyer left the Swamp due to “family and health concerns” and the team was placed into the hands of former Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. During his four seasons at the helm, Muschamp failed to find a Tebow-type quarterback and seemed infatuated on playing a consistently disappointing Jeff Driskel. Muschamp posted a 27-20 record leading the Gators and was fired last season after a 7-5 season. Muschamp quickly fell back into a coaching spot in the SEC taking the defensive coordinator job at Auburn.

Nov 22, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel (6) against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Injuries at the QB position – Jeff Driskel, who was the hailed next Tim Tebow coming out of high school, was plagued by injuries and bad play which led Muschamp to try and find his replacement. In 2013, Driskel suffered a broken leg that ended his season and in 2014, he never returned to the form the coaches and fans had hoped for in his return. During the 2014 campaign, Driskel split time with true freshman Treon Harris and it looked like the team was turning over a new leaf.

Legal issues –Legal issues In October of 2014 Harris was part of an alleged sexual battery investigation that caused him to be suspended. The case was later dropped and Harris was reinstated into the Gator offense, but his troubles didn’t stop there. After McElwain took the seat at the head of the UF football table, Harris was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor in December for operating a motor vehicle without a license.

After spring practice, McElwain said that the position battle between Harris and redshirt freshman Will Grier will be decided during the summer months.

During an SEC teleconference, coach Mac told the media that redshirt junior Skyler Mornhinweg would be transferring to Columbia University leaving the team with two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster.

According 247 Sports, McElwain briefly talked about the quarterback situation in Gainesville.

“We’d’ve loved to have him stay here, but, obviously, as it sits we’re right now with two scholarship quarterbacks,” McElwain said on Wednesday.

“And so moving forward, as you guys all know, that position — especially in this league, now — you need to have some depth. We’re constantly looking at that spot and some other spots on the roster to try to make sure that we have some needed bodies in those areas.”

For a team that was going to have a rough transition from a defensive minded coach like Muschamp to the pro style offense of McElwain, the lack of identity at the most important position on the field will surely only prolong the process.

With Grier and Harris in a battle to lock up the starting job and potential transfer players to add to the mix, the quarterback position doesn’t seem likely to be filled any time soon and potentially not even before week one when the Gators take the field against New Mexico State.

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