Driskel has sound game plan
Rookie QB intends to ‘ keep my mouth shut and learn’ at camp
SANTA CLARA — While Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert presumably duke it out in this summer’s quarterback competition, Jeff Driskel is set to observe quietly as a rookie.
Driskel reported Thursday for a three-day rookie camp and promptly signed his contract. He’ll earn up to $2.629 million, with an initial $112,540 signing bonus, the Houston Chronicle reported.
“My mindset is to just come in, keep my mouth shut and learn, because there’s a lot to learn,” said Driskel, the 14th quarterback drafted last week.
He was drafted in the sixth round with the No. 207 overall pick, thrusting him into the competition for the No. 3 role with Thad Lewis and Dylan Thompson.
But all eyes will be cast on Kaepernick and Gabbert in determining this year’s biggest question: Who will start?
“Well, that remains to be seen,” general manager Trent Baalke said Thursday on KNBR. “We’ve got some guys out there that are going to compete for that job, and the coaching staff is high on all those guys in that room.
“And it’s going to be an open competition, like it is at every position right now.”
Driskel said he has had “very little” interaction with Kaepernick and Gabbert, and the latter actually has a history with the 49ers’ newest quarterback.
“I met Blaine back when I was in high school at an Elite 11 camp, and he was one of the counselors,” Driskel said. “He helped me out and it was good to get to know him there.”
Driskel was such a highly regarded prep prospect that he won the Maxwell Football Club’s National High School Player of the Year, as well as Gatorade’s Florida Player of the Year.
The 49ers are Driskel’s third team in as many years, as he played his senior season at Louisiana Tech after transferring from Florida. He’ll see familiar faces in the locker room, including three of his former Florida teammates: running back Kelvin Taylor and offensive linemen Trent Brown and Ian Silberman.
“It’s really cool to see four former teammates in the NFL together. I think that’s pretty rare,” Driskel said. “It’s just a great opportunity for all of us.”
Gabbert continues to work as the incumbent starter while Kaepernick is recovering from surgeries on his right thumb, left knee and left shoulder.
“He’s rehabbing, he’s working hard,” Baalke added. “… He’s in all the meetings. He’s taking as many mental reps as he can out on the field. He’s finally gotten the opportunity to start throwing a little bit.
“When he’s going to be allowed to do that in the practice sessions, I think that’s coming up down the road here. But he’s out here with the rehab crew, and throwing and slinging it around, and getting better every day.”