Possible Grad Transfer Driskel EDIT

Submitted by jbibiza on

Florida QB Jeff Driskel has been granted a release to transfer. He has graduated this year so can play right away. He was a five star recruit who played a lot but never panned out, and was replaced half way through this season. Not exactly Hogan but maybe worth a shot. Possible that Durkin has some inside knowledge about his potential  (even though he is a defensive coach).

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12114777/jeff-driskel-granted-release-scholarship-florida-gators

EDIT: He came in today and did not look good. Threw a pick in the second half that led to a TD.

michfanisbacka…

January 3rd, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^

Yeah Driskel hasn't been good, but we have exactly 0 fucking TD passes on our roster, and some of you are saying no. Uhhh why? Why not have another shot and at least this guy has played some. Worse case scenario he doesn't play. I don't get some of you.

WolvinLA2

January 3rd, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^

No one is advocating turning Hogan away to take Driskel.  But if Hogan isn't an option, isn't someone better than no one?  He's not a star, for sure.  But maybe he has had awful QB coaching, it's not like Florida's offense has been good in any facet.  And he has a lot more experience than any of our guys.

GoBLUinTX

January 3rd, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^

All these moans and groans about Jeff Driskel are based on what?  One full season, his sophomore season when the Gators went 11-2 beating up on LSU, SC, Johnny Football's aTM, FSU.....  Threw only 5 INTs in 13 games.  Hell, Michigan has been doing that in two games.

Then yes, he broke his leg during the third game, 1st Q against Tennessee in 2013.  Michigan could do far worse than a QB that has a regular season TD:INT ratio of 5:1.

WolvinLA2

January 3rd, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^

I find it funny that a year ago, this board was licking their chops for a back-up center from Alabama to transfer, but when a back up QB is an option, no one wants the guy.  Just odd.

Jimmy the Chin

January 3rd, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^

I'm not impressed with Driskel.  Ithink we can all agree that a Braxton Miller or Kevin Hogan would be a better choice.  That being said, I'd say bring in as many bodies as we can with experience at the QB position, the added competition in practice can only help us.

Bill in Birmingham

January 3rd, 2015 at 3:00 PM ^

Hell to the no. Driskel is inaccurate and has looked lost every time I have seen him play. Not the kind of player you bring in for one year. Put it this way, if Driskel were somone we would want, Will Muschamp would still be the head coach at Florida.

MichiganAddict

January 3rd, 2015 at 3:05 PM ^

I really wish we would let QB whisperer Harbaugh work with our own highly touted recruits before we go all in on a one and done who hasn't ever really shown anything.

Perkis-Size Me

January 3rd, 2015 at 3:16 PM ^

He was a disaster at Florida. Maybe he just needs a fresh start and can flourish somewhere else, and if Harbaugh the QB whisperer sees potential in him, then so be it. But if it were up to me, I'd move along to someone else.



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bacon

January 3rd, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^

We don't have a quarterback on the roster who has ever thrown a touchdown pass in college, but they have thrown 9 interceptions. Think about that. Sure it's limited playing time and Harbaugh could work magic, but having one QB on staff who has played NCAA football for 4 years is a good thing. If he comes to Michigan, nothing's guaranteed, he competes with the other qbs on the roster, but how could he possibly be a worse choice at this moment than Morris? Sure there's no upside long term, but remember that the first game is on the road vs Utah. He was 4-13 with one int this year at home vs Utah. Driskell for his part really struggled against sec defenses at bama, vs Missouri, Vs LSU and at Tennessee, but destroyed everyone else he played against this year (mostly cupcakes, but still it happened). I'd take offer a chance to him or hogan or any other transfer to compete for a spot starting at Utah in the opener.

sierragold

January 3rd, 2015 at 5:28 PM ^

What you are saying is that you don't trust Harbaugh to make the correct coaching decisions regarding the roster and that even though Ohio State can play a 3rd string QB in the bowl finals that Michigan will not be able to get one ready before our next game and you base this on what exactly?

We have an excellent Coach who is great with QB's, we will have an excellent coaching staff for the team. I am sure that the past 7 years will gradually fade away and that the new coaching regime will allow the fans the chance to put it behind us. It has been hard missing 2 bowl games under RR and another under Hoke and obviously something most Michigan fans did not grow up with or have never seen.

We have QB's on the Roster and if Harbaugh was to bring another or more in, I am sure that he himself would work with them and get them ready for the first game.

Any player that has ever had anything to say about Harbaugh including niners is that he is a great coach. Hell they were asked what they would want in their next coach with the niners and they said someone like Harbaugh, because he was good, really good.

Go Blue!!!!

bacon

January 3rd, 2015 at 5:57 PM ^

I think you're over interpreting what I'm saying. I think Harbaugh can do more with Driskel in a few months than he can with Morris (even with spring). Morris has played one road game (a bowl two years ago) and sat out the last half of this year with a head injury. We start on the road at Utah. I think I'd rather have a qb who has played on the road in big games before on the roster.

PEMBLUE

January 3rd, 2015 at 4:28 PM ^

lead-footed, inaccurate, poor at decision making, slow to throw and release the football and main reason why Florida lost so many games.  Miller would be an improvement, Hogan seems like he would be solid, Golston would be a risk, and Driskell would be a disaster.  I would rather develop our own quarterbacks unless he had a sure thing come in like MIller or Hogan, however, I still don't love the idea of them filling in for a year at qb (why am I more ok with OL, etc JUCO's or transfer, idk), especially a former Buckeye.  The qb's we have really need to step up, but I would rather give them a chance since they have had little opportunity to do so.

RJMAC

January 3rd, 2015 at 4:37 PM ^

Probably prefer Hogan to Driskell, but i do think Michigan needs a 'veteran' QB to bridge the transition of this new offense. Our current QB's are young and inexperienced. Added to that is they have to learn a new offense. Bringing in preferably Hogan or even Driscoll would solidify the greatest weakness on Michigan's team. If nothing else it would add much needed depth.

Cold War

January 3rd, 2015 at 4:42 PM ^

Driskel has shown he's bad over a number of seasons. I'd hate to waste focus and time on a guy who has pretty much shown he can't play versus young guys with multiple seasons of eligibility and greater upside.

sierragold

January 3rd, 2015 at 4:53 PM ^

To make the correct decisions in regards to the QB and the rest of the roster. I believe I recently seen a PRESS CONFERENCE where it said he is the new Coach of the Michigan Football Team.

Unless he is secretly on the board to get everyone's opinion on the next QB I really don't think it is going to matter much what anyone on here thinks of who we are playing.

Canadian

January 3rd, 2015 at 6:12 PM ^

Honestly why wouldn't you entertain every single qb who wants to transfer here? Worst case scenario they don't start and spend the year as a backup providing redshirt opportunities to Malzone and even Morris. Best case scenario they come in and start providing redshirt opportunities for both QBs.

Doctor Wolverine

January 3rd, 2015 at 6:25 PM ^

I don't know if Driskell is necessarily the answer, but I am definitely open to bringing in a fifth year QB to compete for the starting job. This would, imo, be a better use of a roster spot than taking a flyer on some generic three star. Let him compete for one season, and then use his roster spot for a 2016 recruit when Harbaugh has more time to recruit elite talent.

JMEISTER

January 3rd, 2015 at 11:46 PM ^

This transfer thing in the fifth yr. Didnt like it at Wiscy with Russell Wilson. Don't like the thought of it at M. I don't think it's good for college football. It's like having free agents in college football. Kid comes in for one year and he's gone. Does Wiscy win the B1G without Russell Wilson a few years ago? No way. It just doesn't settle well with me. I'd rather see our own recruits develop under our coaches.

treetown

January 4th, 2015 at 1:03 AM ^

For most fans, until Russell Wilson did what he did, most probably weren't aware this was possible. We almost never see it because it is just so rare - it takes an exceptionally good player, who is also very personable and charismatic and can back it up on the field. For a position like QB, it would be very hard to step into a situation and only after Spring ball and summer camp and be able to beat out people who have been there for 3-4 years. Wilson not only did it on the field but he was actually voted a captain just from his camp interaction. Just don't see most of these possible transfers pulling this off.

A more interesting question is how come his original school where he spent 3 years (if I recall it was NC State) never could build a contending team around him.

Magnus

January 4th, 2015 at 6:23 AM ^

"I'd rather see our own recruits develop under our coaches."

You'd rather see that than what, exactly? You'd rather see our own recruits play than see us win? I'm not saying Morris, Speight, Malzone, etc. can't be good, but if they're not good, I don't want to see the whole ship sink just because we're too stubborn to take a transfer.

The NCAA made it legal, and other teams are using it to their advantage. I don't see why Michigan needs to trail behind, and our own recruits (Cox, Furman, Ash, Rawls, etc.) are going elsewhere and being successful.