The Florida Gators depth chart took a big hit Saturday, as the team lost starting quarterback Jeff Driskel to a broken right leg. Driskel broke the fibula, which is the smaller bone in the lower leg. He will need surgery to repair the leg.
Driskel, a junior, broke the leg in the first quarter of the Gators 31-17 victory on Saturday over Tennessee. Driskel broke his leg while throwing an interception. Driskel threw a pass that was picked off by Tennessee's Devaun Swafford. As he threw the ball, defensive lineman Marlon Walls pulled Driskel to the ground. Walls then landed on the quarterback's leg, breaking the bone.
Driskel was 10-3 as a starter heading into Saturday's game, and while his numbers were not as spectacular as past Florida quarterbacks, he was the only quarterback on Florida's roster to throw a pass before yesterday.
Driskel was replaced by junior Tyler Murphy. Murphy led the Gators to 17 straight points to overcome the early 7-0 deficit. Murphy finished the game completing eight of 14 passes for 134 yards, and also rushed 10 times for 84 yards and two total touchdowns.
So while it was a good debut in emergency circumstances for Murphy, it was against Tennessee's defense, which is still very much a work in progress against major conference competition. With three road games in the next four, including a trip to Arkansas, everyone will find out just how good Murphy and the Gator offense will be without Driskel.
