Donovan doubts Brissett will play two sports at UF
Friday, February 11, 2011 | Men's Basketball, Football, Women's Tennis, Scott Carter
Since Palm Beach Dwyer two-sport standout Jacoby Brissett officially signed to play football for the Gators on Monday, a lot of UF fans have wondered if Brissett will also join Florida's basketball team.
That's a subject that Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan has discussed with football coach Will Muschamp.
“If he wants to play basketball – I've talked to Will about it – there's not a problem at all with him playing here,'' Donovan said.
However, Donovan added that like most two-sport standouts, they eventually have to choose one or the other in college because of the time commitment. Donovan has had similar talks with other football players in the past, including most recently Cornelius Ingram.
Brissett is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback whose future for now appears to be football. He is averaging more than 13 points a game for Dwyer's basketball team as a versatile swingman.
Donovan said he has seen Brissett play and said that he is certainly talented enough to play for the Gators. But the reality of what it takes to play football at an elite Division I program such as Florida may prevent him from trying.
“He is a very, very good basketball player,'' Donovan said. “If he plays on the team his freshman year and he comes over here in January, he would have a lot to learn.''
Donovan said he would also need time to rest his body at some point, which is often a deciding factor in a two-sport athlete opting to focus on just one.
