Newton beats out Brantley to be QB Tebow's backup
The search for a backup quarterback has ended.
Freshman Cameron Newton beat out fellow freshman John Brantley and will be Tim Tebow's backup to start the season. Last season, Tebow came in and provided what starter Chris Leak did not: a running game.
However, Coach Urban Meyer said Cameron Newton is from the same mold as Tebow; neither is a traditional drop-back passer like Chris Leak. Meyer said he does not yet have a specific game plan in mind for Cameron Newton like he did with Tebow.
"Everybody wants this and wants that, it's what you got," Meyer said. "The reason we did [the two-quarterback system] last year is because he was much different than our starting quarterback in Chris."
Meyer said he does not plan to redshirt John Brantley, but if Cameron Newton plays well it is likely that John Brantley will redshirt. And while it's the Tebow Era, Meyer is already looking toward the future.
"We're preparing [John Brantley] to be a starting quarterback at Florida," he said. "We don't just say you're redshirted. I know that some people might want to hear that, but he's got to be ready to play."
In the beginning of the spring, it was speculated that junior transfer Bryan Waggener would back up Tebow, but Cameron Newton was thrust into that role when Waggener went down with a torn meniscus. Waggener is still out three to four more weeks.
Captains named
WR Andre Caldwell, OT Phil Trautwein, OL Drew Miller, S Tony Joiner and junior DE Derrick Harvey will be the team captains, Meyer announced Saturday. Caldwell was the leading vote-getter among his teammates.
Haden to start
Freshman CB Joe Haden has clinched a starting corner spot opposite Markihe Anderson. Ever since arriving on campus this spring, Meyer has been impressed with Haden, especially his athletic ability.
"He's one of the top five fastest guys on the team," Meyer said. "He's a competitor and he's just outperforming the other guys right now."
Haden beat out sophomore Wondy Pierre-Louis and redshirt junior Markus Manson.
Etc.
The NCAA still has not cleared freshman DT John Brown as academically eligible. . . . Former Southern Cal TB Emmanuel Moody is set to make a decision Monday about whether he will attend UF or North Carolina.
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