A new era is about to begin.
Former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, who is in Denver participating in practices as a member of the Denver Broncos, is gone.
In steps redshirt junior John Brantley – Florida’s new signal caller.
“Well, you can’t replace (Tebow),” senior safety Ahmad Black said. “You only hope to keep up the tradition, and keep up what he’s done.”
But as UF begins its training camp today, Brantley will look to create his own legacy.
The Ocala native is more of a pocket passer than Tebow was, but will provide less with his legs.
Last season, Brantley threw for 410 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with zero interceptions in seven games, mostly in mop-up duty for Tebow.
“We’re not going to run our quarterback as much,” center Mike Pouncey said. “He’s not as big as Superman was.”
However, UF coach Urban Meyer does not expect that dynamic to change the offensive scheme very much if there are other weapons that can spread the field.
“(Our offensive scheme) is not going to be dictated as much by the quarterback,” Meyer said. “I know what he can do. It’s the people around him.”
Even though the two primary offensive targets from last season, wide receiver Riley Cooper and tight end Aaron Hernandez, are now in the NFL – the Gators expect even more playmakers to step up this year.
Wide receiver Deonte Thompson, who struggled at times and accumulated just 343 yards through the air last season, is expected to be the deep threat and the leader of this year’s receiving core.
But the players that could end up benefitting the most from Meyer’s decision to stick with the spread offense are speedy wide receivers Andre Debose and Chris Rainey, who made the move to the position from running back in the offseason.
Debose, who Pouncey said would be the offensive player to emerge this year, came into UF last season as the No. 2 wide receiver recruit, according to Rivals.com. But he never had the chance to play because of a hamstring injury. Debose has received comparisons to Percy Harvin and could play the same role in this offense.
Other potential passing targets for Brantley are redshirt senior Carl Moore and redshirt sophomore Omarius Hines.
Brantley will be able to spread the ball around. But the biggest benefit he may have is the experience he has gained from watching Tebow handle the position for the last three seasons.
“John Brantley, he’s had a great run at Florida,” Pouncey said. “He’s been there three years, learning from one of the best quarterbacks that played the game. He’s ready to lead this team to a championship.”