Driskel plans to transfer; replaced injured Harris on Saturday
Sunday, January 4, 2015 | Football, Men's Golf, Scott Carter
Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel has requested a release from his scholarship to transfer. (Tim Casey)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- In what appears to be Jeff Driskel's final game for the Gators, the fourth-year junior quarterback's final play was a victory snap.
Driskel's 9-yard run for a first down with 58 seconds allowed the Gators to run out the clock in their 28-20 win over East Carolina on Saturday in the Birmingham Bowl.
With starter Treon Harris slowed by an elbow injury, Driskel took over in the third quarter and finished 8 of 17 for 48 yards. He added seven yards on three rushes.
Prior to the game, new Gators head coach Jim McElwain said Driskel has requested and received permission to be released from his scholarship with plans to transfer.
"We all have choices and I'm not going to hold him hostage, certainly,'' McElwain said.
Driskel began the season as Florida's starter but lost his job to Harris following a home loss to Missouri.
Interim head coach D.J. Durkin said Driskel responded well to his unexpected opportunity Saturday.
"I think he was outstanding,” Durkin said. “I think it says a lot about him as a person. The amount of adversity he's had to go through in his career, to be honest, I don't know if I could last through that. That says a lot about him and a lot about our team. Our guys believe in him; he believes in his teammates.”
