Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
QBs all preparing like they’re starting Friday
BOCA RATON — Jason Driskel said he has lost track of how Florida Atlantic’s quarterbacks have split reps. He tags in. He tags out. De’Andre Johnson tags in. Daniel Parr tags out.
The three quarterbacks are still vying for the starting job ahead of Friday night’s opener against Navy, a position battle that began between Johnson and Driskel but expanded to also include Parr.
“We just go in whenever we’re told,” Driskel said Monday morning. “It’s kind of a situation like tag one guy in and another guy comes out. It’s not like ‘Oh, I only got five reps that rack and you got six.’ It’s more of a situation where we go in, groups switch or we feel like we’ve been in for a while, someone else will tag me out, or I’ll tag someone else in.”
Throughout preseason camp, FAU coach Lane Kiffin said he would have liked to have already chosen a quarterback, but none separated from the others. He hoped a live scrimmage Aug. 12 would help. He thought another one Aug. 19 would decide. Even Friday night’s mock game stood as an opportunity to stand out.
But none of the three did, and the Owls are faced with the possibility of playing multiple quarterbacks Friday. Last week, Kiffin said he hoped it wouldn’t be all three quarterbacks playing against Navy.
On Monday, Kiffin said he wasn’t sure what form a multi-quarterback system would take. Would the two quarterbacks be drastically different in style to throw off the defense? Would one take the first half and one take the second half? Would it be similar to FAU’s arrangement in 2016?
“I think it depends on which two you’re down to in that situation because two are kind of more similar than the other one,” Kiffin said. “It could be a situation were playing and we’re calling the same plays. It could be a situation where we call different plays with one guy.”
All three quarterbacks are preparing as if they were the starter.
“In that case, everyone will be ready to play,” Parr said. “I think that’s the one good thing about it, and maybe that’s the reason they haven’t named one person the starter.”
Driskel started 11 games for FAU last season and threw for 2,415 yards along with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also added 242 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Parr earned one start during his redshirt freshman season in 2016. In total, he played nine games, completing 15 of 36 passes for 106 yards. Parr also threw two interceptions and zero touchdowns.
“Playing quarterback especially, you have to be prepared, whether you’re going to play zero plays or 100,” Driskel said. “Obviously, I’ve been every position here. I’ve been thirdstring, second-string and I’ve started games. Your level of preparation should be consistent.”
Johnson transferred to FAU from East Mississippi Community College after originally signing with Florida State out of high school. At EMCC, he proved to be a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, rushing for 834 yards while passing for 26 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Kiffin said Johnson was limited during Monday’s practice after he missed Sunday’s practice.
“We’ve done everything necessary to make sure we’re going to go out there and execute on Friday,” Parr said. “Whoever plays out there on Friday is going to do a good job.”