BOCA RATON – Based on FAU coach Charlie Partridge’s comments, it doesn’t appear as though quarterback Jason Driskel is in much danger of losing his starting spot to understudy Daniel Parr.
In Monday’s weekly meeting with the media, Partridge said that Parr is struggling with some of the basics of new offensive coordinator Travis Trickett’s offense.
“There’s simply things you must do to operate the offense,” Partridge said. “There’s things that calls require you to execute.”
Though Partridge declined to go into specifics, he made it clear that at the moment Parr isn’t handling that aspect of the position nearly as well as Driskel is.
Parr, a redshirt freshman, and Driskel began a quarterback battle in the spring that ended roughly a week before the start of the season with Partridge naming Driskel the Owls’ starting quarterback.
A redshirt sophomore, Driskel threw for two scores and rushed for another in the season-opening victory over Southern Illinois, but hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since and the Owls have only two touchdowns in the two games that followed – both losses.
In Saturday’s blowout loss at Kansas St. Driskel suffered through his worst outing as a collegian, throwing two interceptions and fumbling twice in the 63-7 FAU loss.
Parr played nearly the entire fourth quarter, entering the game after Driskel piloted the Owls on their lone touchdown drive.
One of the most prized recruits ever to sign with FAU, the strong-armed Parr completed one of his four pass attempts against the Wildcats, covering four yards. He was also sacked once.
In mop-up duty the week prior against Miami Parr’s lone pass fell incomplete. He was also sacked once.
“He’ll grow,” Partridge said. “Daniel’s a talented young man, but operating the offense is part of being quarterback. As he grows into that, then he’ll have a better chance of stepping out there onto the field.”