New coach impresses QB Driskel
Owls starter excited about Kiffin’s history of developing prospects.
BOCA RATON — Jason Driskel knows Lane Kiffin’s reputation.
He knows his new head coach, who was introduced by Florida Atlantic on Tuesday, did not last long in his previous stints as head coach of the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Volunteers or USC Trojans.
But he also knows Kiffin’s reputation for coaching quarterbacks, and Driskel sees an opportunity.
“It’s exciting,” said Driskel, who beat out Daniel Parr for the Owls’ starting quarterback job and went on to complete 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,415, yards nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a 3-9 team. “He just said in his press conference right there that offenses change based off of personnel, and a lot of that has to do with the quarterback.”
Kiffin met with the players Monday night, and both the new coach and his likely quarterback said there was excitement in the room.
“As a team, we’re looking forward to playing for him,” Driskel said.
Kiffin has coached a stable of talented quarterbacks through the years. At USC, he was the passing game coordinator before becoming first the co-offensive coordinator and coached Matt Leinart to a Heisman season in 2005 and John David Booty and Matt Barkley when they threw for more than 3,000 yards. At Alabama this season, he coached true freshman Jalen Hurts, who threw for 2,592 yards and 22 touchdowns while tossing only nine interceptions.
Driskel will be a redshirt junior when Kiffin coaches his first game for the Owls next year and will likely start after starting 11 of 12 games last season. His main competition should be Parr (Dwyer High), who started one game last year and threw for 106 yards and no touchdowns.
Before Kiffin takes over as FAU’s coach, he’ll continue his role as offensive coordinator at Alabama for the Crimson Tide’s playoff game against Washington. He said he could manage both — the semifinal game against Washington is Dec. 31 and the potential national title game is Jan. 9.