Jeff Driskel was the #1 rated quarterback in the country coming out of high school. He is a former Gatorade Player of The Year and threw for 4,844 yards and 36 touchdowns in his career at Oviedo Hagerty High School. Driskel ran for 1,333 yards and 20 touchdowns in his senior year. He will be the fifth quarterback to start as a true freshman for the Gators. One of those quarterbacks (Chris Leak) eventually led the Gators to a National Championship in 2006. He is 6-4 235 lbs and runs the 40 yard dash in 4.5 seconds. This kid is an athletic specimen and everyone knows it.

What everyone doesn’t know is which Jeff Driskel will show up on Saturday against LSU? Will it be the high school Driskel that had confidence, a ridiculous athletic ability and an arm like a cannon that could hit a target in stride while rolling out to his non throwing side? Or will it be the the same, timid, college freshman that showed the world on primetime television that he was just not ready for that Alabama Defense. I mean lets be honest, most freshman would have crumbled the same way he did if their offensive line protected them as well as the Gators protected Driskel. They basically got him killed. But, regardless of that, you could see it in his face before he even stepped on the field. When CBS showed him on the sideline, while Brantley was being helped off the field, he looked like he had seen a ghost. I can only imagine what was going through his head… “I’m gonna get killed, I’m gonna get killed, I’m gonna get killed…” Nonethless, he came out in the second half, had a few horrible offensive series that were highlighted by a 31-yard scramble and finished out the game.

Driskel has a chance to become one of the greatest Gator quarterbacks ever. He has all of the attributes that you would want in a quarterback. He’s tall, athletic, fast, versatile, has a cannon for an arm and is game smart. Offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis had this to say about Driskel, “He runs our team well…The team is not afraid when he is in there. He can make every throw. Gaining experience, that’s what he’s doing. Every time he’s out there it’s a good thing regardless what happens because he’s just gaining experience.” All I know is that I interpret this quote two different ways. One: He is going to succeed out there because everyone believes in him and he can make the plays, Two: this is probably not going to happen anytime soon as it is obvious he needs a boat-load of additional field experience to effectively manage the game and compete in the SEC.

Hopefully for every single Gator fan out there this isn’t the case. I can honestly tell you that I am praying for a miraculous win on Saturday: Driskel beats LSU in his first collegiate start and sets the Gator Nation in a FRENZY. Nothing would make me happier.