Redshift junior quarterback John Brantley will play his senior season with the Florida Gators after deciding not to transfer from the University of Florida, his father John Brantley III told the Palm Beach Post on Friday.
“He’s not transferring unless something goes wrong between now and the end of the spring semester,” Brantley III said. “He’s a Gator.”
Brantley, who was considering leaving after a rough first season, is excited to play in a pro-style offense under offensive coordinator Charlie Weis after being a square peg in a round hole in former head coach Urban Meyer‘s spread offense.
“[A pro-style offense] is what we would have sought out if we had looked to move on, but it came to us,” Brantley III told the paper. “Johnny’s looking forward to the challenge. Once they said there was going to a pro-style, transferring wasn’t even a question.”
Though he threw for over 2,000 yards in his first year as a starter, Brantley tossed 10 interceptions compared to only nine touchdowns and was relegated to mostly third-and-long duty in the 2011 Outback Bowl.
Brantley has not yet met with Weis – something he and his family said he would do before making a decision – but plans to in the near future. Weis is expected to be in Gainesville on Saturday.
Photo Credit: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
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Go work on a farm & fish with kin
Good. I still don’t know if he will ever fulfill the potential we all thought he had prior to last season but I still believe that having him plus Driskel is a better situation then us knowing we are going to be starting a true freshman on opening day.
I am glad he is staying and I bet he has a great season!
I am hearing Bryant Young is now on the staff, and is visiting Jernigan and now Jernigan is visiting Florida.
I agree with ScGator.While his play was sub par I would rather have back then just driskel and reed. Brantley played awful but what do you expect when you are the designated passer. Gators had no ground game so when he was on the field there was no threat of anything else but pass.
I think Brantley could flip the script on a few posters on this site. Imagine having a new boss that has the same goals and vision for the company that you have. Its amazing what that kind new leadership will do to work ethic, morale, and motivation. Brantley has the tools, just needs the convidence to make the plays.
I could be totally wrong – just trying to be optimistic.
Hopefully he comes in and blows everyone away!
I am happy about this. I agree with SC Gator. He may not be as great as we expected, but I think in the right system, and with the right help, he’ll be one of the top QBs in the SEC. After watching the game a week or so ago, I think Driskel needs work throwing the ball.
To me, Brantley needs to impove on three things (1) accuracy — he often throws the ball too high; (2) looking at the whole field — he often locks onto receivers; and (3) throwing a tighter spiral, which may not really affect his throws, but it affects Deonte’s ability to catch. I also believe that he really let the first few games affect the rest of the season. He doesn’t have a baseball closer’s mentality. I think the first few games with the snaps threw him off his rhythm and that affected the rest of his year as he was being ridiculed. Hopefully he has a good relationship with Robey and Alajajian He needs to get mentally tough.
Mr2bits: Quite a change of tune considering how bad you’ve been hanging Brantley out to dry the last few weeks!!
I agree with some of the posters on here, I think he’ll play well in the new system and made a wise decision to stay. Maybe I have rose colored glasses on, but I’m thinking he’ll have a good year.
JB still has a lot to prove – and now may have an opportunity. Perhaps he will have more than 2 seconds to get a pass off in the new offense, but the issue of leadership still is in question. There seemed (just a personal impression or ‘feeling’ – nothing based on interviews or scientific) to be a distinct lack of confidence when he was on the field. He will have to TAKE THE STARTING JOB BY FORCE in order to earn the respect and confidence that needs to exist for this team to be “”all in””.
Good. Like some of you have already said he might do well in Charlie’s system. Here’s hoping.
I think it’s great that he is returning to UF. Under Weis he could get going.
Is it me or does anyone think “Johnny’s” daddy does an awful lot of talking for a kid who’s a junior in college?
Swampbabe- Cant interview student-athletes without talking to UF first. Parents not under same restriction.
Yay??? Well the first thing Charlie needs to install in JB along with the cowerdly lion is courage. This guy looked for a spot to lie down as soon as protction even remotely looked like it was breaking down…which of course was every passing play. He also does not look down field and when he take off to “jog” he never looks for an open guy. I think they will battle test him in the spring this time before sending onto the filed. Otherwise it is Reed and driskel. Young soounds like a great pick up and I hope that prior comment about jernigan is true.
Well….he can’t play worse than he did last year (I hope). At least we won’t have to hear it’s the O.C.’s fault if he loses his job to a freshman again.
That said…I’m rooting for you kid. I sincerely do hope you prove me wrong. Nothing would make me happier.
Time for the whole team on both sides of the ball to man up!!
Finally, some reasonable responses on Brantley. No harm in him coming back and I have no problem keeping him on a short leash to start the season. I just think it is unrealistic to expect a freshman to come in and lead this offense – I know it happens, but very, very seldom. And for the tenth time, Reed has said many times he would rather not play QB.