Quarterback Jeff Driskel rebounded from his ankle injury this week and looks fully ready to start for No. 6 Florida against No. 10 Florida State.
The Gators started the week uncertain about the status of Driskel’s sprained right ankle, but those concerns are fading as the team works toward Saturday’s trip to Tallahassee (3:30 p.m., ABC). In practice, Driskel appeared capable of executing the complete offense, even the quarterback run plays.
“We did everything we normally do,” coach Will Muschamp said. “There was nothing limited within the package of what we do and the way we normally prepare for any game. He looked very good yesterday and unless something just unheard of happens in practice today or tomorrow, he’ll be ready to go Saturday.”
The Gators will need a big game from him to survive Florida State, which has the best defense in the country, and keep their national championship hopes alive. Florida is fourth in the BCS standings and could get into the title game with a win and help.
Even if the Gators (10-1) do not get losses from the top three teams, they still can clinch a spot in a BCS bowl by finishing in the top four. If another SEC team reaches the national championship game and UF is ranked fourth or better, it would likely land in the Sugar Bowl. A loss by one of the top three teams could put Florida in position to play for the BCS championship.
Driskel left the game against Louisiana-Lafayette two weeks ago when he rolled his ankle on a run play. Last week, UF started fellow sophomore Jacoby Brissett, from Dwyer High School, in a 23-0 win over Jacksonville State.
In his first year on the job, Driskel won nine of his first 10 starts. He has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for an average of 132.4 yards per game. As a runner, he is picking up 9.2 yards per rush and 62.3 per game, not counting sacks.
He has been sacked 29 times for loss of 199 yards. The 32 sacks given up by the Gators is their third-highest total since 1996.
Special teams uncertainty: One of the reasons the Gators are 10-1 is their excellent play on special teams, but they have some key spots unsettled this week.
Receiver Andre Debose is back from a knee injury and is one of several players under consideration in the return game. Muschamp said the team will use either Debose or cornerback Marcus Roberson on punt returns. On kick returns, the staff is deciding between Debose, running back Omarius Hines and cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy.
