Parr, Driskel split QB time; Johnson hurt

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic quarterback Daniel Parr received more reps with the first-team offense on Monday morning as the Owls planned to rotate Parr, Jason Driskel and De’Andre Johnson with the ones.

But Johnson was held out of the team portion of practice due to an injury, meaning Driskel and Parr split time with the first unit. FAU coach Lane Kiffin is trying to pick a quarterback to lead the Owls into their season opener on Sept. 1 against Navy.

At the beginning of camp, the competition appeared to be a two-man race between the incumbent Driskel and former Florida State quarterback Johnson. But as Driskel and Johnson missed practices due to tests and injuries, Parr jumped up with the second-team offense.

He impressed enough in those appearances and during Saturday’s scrimmage to direct the first-team offense on Monday at times.

“Like we always say, that’s how we build our program: on competition,” Kiffin said. “Doesn’t matter where you’re from or how many stars or where you are on the depth chart, you’ll move up if you play well. You’ll move down if you don’t.”

On Saturday, Parr threw for 255 yards on 18-of-29 passing. He had two touchdowns and one interception.

“Daniel Parr had a really good day,” Kiffin said. “He had five drops when he was in there; otherwise he’d have been about 80 percent completion.”

Kiffin said Johnson was day-to-day with his injury. Johnson participated early in practice before he was held out. Kiffin said Johnson’s injury “probably” affected his performance during Saturday’s scrimmage. Johnson went 4 of 17 with 36 yards and an interception but added 75 yards on the ground.

Kiffin said Johnson has forced some throws through the first 16 practices of preseason camp.

“That happens sometimes in quarterback competitions,” Kiffin said. “Guys feel like, ‘I’ve got to win today. I’ve got to win the job today.’ So we continue to talk to our guys about that. No different than talking to Parr yesterday about, ‘Hey, you’re going to take some plays with the ones. Don’t go up there and start trying to force that ball because you’re with the ones.’”

Through the first two weeks of camp, the Owls alternated practices with Driskel and Johnson as the top quarterbacks. Kiffin said he was not sure how the Owls would handle quarterback reps for today’s practice.