Driskel garners even more attention
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Just a few months ago, Jeff Driskel was known as a nice, talented quarterback from the Southeast who would probably get a lot of Division I attention. But even Driskel, from Oviedo (Fla.) Hagerty, did not expect it to happen so soon.
"Once I went to the Under Armour and Army All-American combines my name kind of blew up and I'm getting a lot more exposure but I'm not letting it run my life," Driskel said. "I've handled it all right. I don't really have a process. I kind of just go with it."
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Most everyone said Driskel was the top quarterback at the EA SPORTS Elite 11 QB regional camp held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex Sunday with Miami Northwestern's Teddy Bridgewater also in the conversation.
Camp counselors Browning Nagle, a former NFL quarterback, and Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic coach John Brantley III were in agreement that Driskel showed all the moxie and arm strength of a quality college quarterback.
"In terms of just arm strength, no, there were other quarterbacks up there with him," Nagle said. "But there are a lot of spices that go into the pot and he had the best flavor."
Brantley said: "I'd rather have an accurate quarterback than just a strong-armed quarterback. (Driskel) showed he can make all the throws and I'm really excited to follow him next season."
Rivals.com tabbed Driskel, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound pro-style quarterback who can also throw on the run, as the top quarterback at the Army Combine held in early January in San Antonio. One coach there only half-joked that Driskel was ready to play in the Army game with the senior class.
Programs have taken notice. Tennessee is the newest offer for Driskel, who also said he's started to get in contact with new Southern Cal position coach Clay Helton. No offer has been given by the Trojans but they haven't offered any quarterbacks yet.
"Being that they're a new staff, they want to get to know all their guys and they don't want to make a decision too soon," Driskel said of Southern Cal.
"They want to evaluate since they got a late start. They want to evaluate before they do anything but just talking to the guys and getting to know the coaches is a big thing for me as well as for them."
Florida will stay very much in the picture for Driskel, who said he plans to attend some spring practices in Gainesville. There is already a relationship being built between Driskel and position coach Scot Loeffler, who Driskel said has one of the best football minds he's ever been around.
Driskel has already visited Auburn, too, and the Tigers stand in good position in his recruitment. LSU, Arizona State, Clemson, Illinois and Virginia Tech are just some other offers. Notre Dame and Miami could get involved.
Alabama had been showing increased interest but Driskel, also a baseball standout, said the Crimson Tide haven't been involved as much in recent weeks. He's still very much wants to hear from the reigning national champs.
"Alabama was but they kind of slowed down recently," he said. "I like Alabama a lot but they slowed down in the last couple weeks."