Spring football is a time for competition as players try to prove to their coaches that they are ready for prime time.
Guys who were No. 1 on the depth chart at the end of the 2012 season are in competition to prove that they still deserve that slot. Players who were No. 2 and No. 3 on the depth chart are trying to move up, even if the player or players in front of them are established veterans.
That’s where quarterbacks Tyler Murphy and Skyler Mornhinweg find themselves for the Florida Gators. Murphy is a redshirt junior fromWethersfield,Connecticutand Mornhinweg is a redshirt freshman fromPhiladelphia.
But the position they are battling for is the No. 2 spot on the Gators’ quarterback depth chart behind established starter Jeff Driskel, who just 12 months ago was in a battle himself with Jacoby Brissett. Driskel eventually won that battle and is now the unquestioned starting quarterback. Brissett has transferred to NC State.
That leaves Murphy and Mornhinweg playing this spring for the honor of backing up Driskel.
Although both players were on the squad last year, neither has attempted a pass in their collegiate careers. Murphy, a 6-foot-2, 206-pounder, has appeared in three games in his career and Mornhinweg, 6-2, 208, is waiting for his debut.
“Coach is always telling me and I’m always telling myself that I’m one play away,’’ Murphy told Scott Carter of GatorZone.com. “You just gotta prepare every day and keep progressing and just know that if something does happen where I have to step up, there are no excuses for not leading this team to big things.
“I feel a lot more comfortable with everything. I’m kind of one of the old guys now. I’ve kind of taken on a coaching role in a way, helping a lot of the younger guys. I’m just trying to find a way to help contribute and just enjoy it.’”
Murphy played behind John Brantley, Driskel and Brissett in Charlie Weis’ offense, but has thrived since Brent Pease replaced Weis as offensive coordinator.
“Both guys in front of me were really good quarterbacks and they both pushed me and helped me progress,” Murphy said. “It was really just an eye opener. I kept getting better from it and learning.”
Mornhinweg has football in his blood. His father Marty is the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets after working for the Philadelphia Eagles. And, although Mornhinweg is in the competition for the No. 2 job, he knows one way he can help the Gators is to push Murphy.
“I’m just out there trying to get better every day. It’s going really well,’’ Mornhinweg said. “We’re just both going out there and competing and trying to get better every day. It’s a good competition.”
Pease sees a difference in his two quarterbacks and both players appreciate the extra time the coach has been able to give them this spring.
“He’s been great getting us in the film room and on the white board,’’ Mornhinweg said. “He’s a great teacher and we’ve been learning a lot. He coaches a great offense. He makes it as complicated for the defenses as possible and as simple for us as possible.”
There is no doubt that Driskel is the No. 1 quarterback after throwing for 1,646 yards and 12 touchdowns while leading Florida to an 11-2 season and a Sugar Bowl berth, but Murphy and Mornhinweg are working hard to secure that No. 2 job.
“Everybody loves the backup you know,’’ Murphy said.