JOIN THE CONVERSATION, TALK ABOUT THE QB--TALK ABOUT GATOR'S BRANTLEY

With college spring football coming to a close and the NFL draft around the corner, chatter about the upcoming seasons is growing each day. Regardless of the level of play, there is always one subject that gets more than its fair share of attention—the quarterback.

Are the guys that play this position worthy of all the attention they receive? In some cases the answer is yes. For quite a few it’s a maybe, and for a lot of others, absolutely not. Not all QBs are created equal, therefore, not all QBs truly carry the full burden of the team’s wins and losses on their shoulders. By nature of the offensive system and team philosophy some quarterbacks are just facilitators—they manage the game, take care of the football and provide on the field leadership. Others are called upon to routinely audibilize (check their offense in and out of plays at the line of scrimmage), pass the ball efficiently, often more than 40 times/game, and create plays by making good things happen when tucking the ball away and running.

When casual sports fans want to be a part of a football conversation all they need is a half-way reasonable comment about the QB; that’s their ticket in. Even if they don’t know anything else, by chiming in with a sensible statement referencing the QB, casual fan gets his/her card punched and they are accepted.

The guy receiving the snap from center has been romanticized throughout time. Wasn’t it the cute cheerleader who was the envy of all girls when she ended up with the studly QB to end a fictional story or movie? Odds are the two might even show up as king and queen at Homecoming ceremonies. Well, now there is a new quarterback on the scene who will inherently draw a full, steady flow of attention, and he’s ready for it.

John Brantley is a 6’3, 218 pound red-shirt junior at the University of Florida. For the most part he has sat behind, or more realistically, has been prepping for his turn to take control of the Gator offense from recently departed local legend Tim Tebow. Everyone knows Tim Tebow, an almost larger than life figure during his college career in Gainesville. In the face of the stiffest of challenges Tebow had the uncanny ability to make a play or will his teammates to doing something special. Combine Tebow’s infectious personality with incredible leadership skills, God-given size and talent, and a passion to win…well, that’s a lot to replace. It allowed Tebow to attain All-America status, win a Heisman Trophy and two national football championships in his four years while playing in The Swamp.

Now, John Brantley is fully prepared to make sure that the Gator offense doesn't miss a beat. Upon arriving in Gainesville three falls ago Brantley brought with him an impressive resume’ of work from his prep days at Trinity High School in Ocala, FL. He was chosen as a U.S. Army All-American and the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2006. He owned a 27-1 record as a starter and broke the state record for career touchdown passes with 99, topping the total of 98 shared by UF quarterback Tim Tebow and Florida State signal-caller Xavier Lee. Scout.com named him a 5-star passer and he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp.

Brantley had been patiently working as the #2 guy the previous two years and, when combining his red-shirt year as a true freshman, he has three years of quarterback meetings and classroom tutorials to serve as a sturdy foundation of knowledge. He also experienced live game action over the last two years when he enjoyed more than just a little bit of success. Completing 54 out of 76 passes for 645 yards and 10 touchdowns versus one interception is not too shabby.

I had the good fortune of being able to get up close and personal by being around the Gators in meetings and on the practice field a week prior to this past Saturday’s spring game. My impression is that JB, as he is known to those around him, is an intelligent guy who knows the offensive system inside-out. He conducts himself with a quiet confidence and is working to become more vocal, although all of the Gators will tell you he is the man in charge on the field. As vocal as Tebow, neither he nor anyone else will ever be. He has a quick, effective release, good arm strength, and is extremely accurate. He is certainly a passer rather than a runner, but he is athletic enough to help himself get out of trouble. The real key is that the offense rallies around him and they believe in him.

Brantley closed out his first spring as the top Gator QB with an impressive performance, 15 out of 19 for 201 yards and 2 TDs in the Blue & Orange spring game.

Keep an eye on Brantley as the Gators work to keep their program among the nation’s elite. As the Gator offensive system continues to evolve and be tweaked to fit this year's talent, the UF faithful should feel good that their fortunes for 2010 are in good hands with Brantley.

So, there you go. If you need fuel for your pre-season football conversation, feel free to borrow some of this when the topic is, “Who is that guy replacing Tebow at Florida?”