WR Thompson: Brantley is “a real quarterback”

Offering up the first media pounce-worthy soundbite of 2010 spring practice is Florida Gators redshirt junior wide receiver Deonte Thompson. Speaking with reporters after practice Monday, Thompson relayed this gem when asked about what it is like to catch balls from fellow redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley:

“You never know with Tim [Tebow],” Thompson said. “He can bolt. You think he’s running but he’ll come up and pass it to you. You just have to be ready. With Brantley, everything’s with rhythm, with time. You know what I mean, a real quarterback.”

The last thing Gators fans want to hear from a guy who was supposed to be the team’s No. 1 receiver but ended up being its third option is that the best player in school history was not “a real quarterback.” Especially when some might question whether or not said player is a real pass-catcher, seeing as he had more drops than touchdowns (four) and only totaled 343 yards on the season.

Then again, there is what Thompson said and what he meant, which was likely that Brantley is simply more traditional than Tebow – a pro-style, drop-back passer with a stronger arm and more crisp ball – all facts.

“Things are going to get better here,” Thompson added. “Any receiver would be happy [to have] a guy like Brantley throwing the ball, spreading it around to everybody.”

Already supporting him is new wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni, who believes that Thompson can be his top receiver in 2010.

“I can’t say enough about him,” Azzanni said. “He knows he hasn’t lived up to the billing. That’s what’s great about him. He’s humbled. He’s let his guard down. ‘Coach, coach me. I want to catch all the balls I might not have caught in the fall. I want to run better routes. What do I need to do?’ He knows he hasn’t lived up to his billing.”

Special thanks to Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel for some of the quoted material.

Photo Credit: Willie J. Allen, Jr./St. Petersburg Times