HOOVER, Ala. — Defensive end William Green and wide receiver Deonte Thompson believe Florida quarterback John Brantley has found his long-lost mojo.
After struggling in Urban Meyer’s spread offense in his first year as the starter, Brantley has embraced the change to a pro-style system.
“The confidence level is there,” Thompson said. “He’s more comfortable in the system than he was a year ago.”
Charlie Weis, Brantley’s third offensive coordinator since enrolling at Florida, sports a well-known résumé and a knack for improving the play of his quarterback.
Although Weis’ scheme is composed of complex verbiage that Brantley said seemed daunting at first glance, the quarterback said it fits his skill set much better than the spread.
“You always would like to stay in one kind of offense throughout your career, but things change and you’ve got to adapt,” Brantley said.
“Right now, they’re adapting for the better.”
Green and Thompson both said they’ve seen signs of that in the spring and summer.
“His confidence is the biggest thing,” Green said. “Just from summer workouts, 7-on-7 drills, he’s just come in and taken control of the huddle.”
A new coaching staff in Gainesville has helped erase memories from a five-loss season in 2010, but Brantley said the adversity he and his teammates faced last year has actually helped improve the team chemistry going forward.
“We’re ready to start out a new slate and prove to everyone that Florida is back at its elite status,” Brantley said.
Demps’ future addressed
Senior running back Jeff Demps is in Italy running for the U.S. National Track and Field Team but is expected to return to the football team in August, Muschamp said.
Florida’s coach addressed rumors that Demps would not return, saying, “Based on our conversations, he’ll be back. I don’t deal in rumors or message boards. I don’t know any good ball coaches that do that. … When I deal with people, I like to deal eyeball to eyeball, talk to them face to face.”
Etc: After missing all of last season with an injury to his right wrist, Florida offensive lineman Matt Patchan has been cleared to start fall practice, Muschamp said. Patchan was a five-star recruit out of high school but each of his first three seasons were cut short by multiple injuries. … Sophomore linebacker Neiron Ball will miss the entire season according to Muschamp. Ball was diagnosed with a congenital vascular disorder that caused blood vessels in his brain to burst after a workout in February.