GAINESVILLE — Florida QB Jeff Driskel will miss Saturday's game against Jacksonville State, coach Will Muschamp said Wednesday.
Driskel, who has started every game this season, sprained his right ankle during Saturday's 27-20 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.
"He can't get on the practice field," Muschamp said. "And if you don't go by Wednesday, you don't need to play."
Fellow sophomore Jacoby Brissett will start. Brissett led Saturday's comeback win, going 6-of-8 for 64 yards and a touchdown. Muschamp said he does not expect any drop-off.
"I've got all the confidence in the world in Jacoby," he said. "He's prepared himself."
More injuries: WR/KR Andre Debose (ankle) will miss his third consecutive game. S De'Ante Saunders (knee) and LB Neiron Ball (ankle) also will sit. LT Xavier Nixon (knee) and LG James Wilson (knee), who both sat out Saturday, are probable. Ian Silberman (shoulder), who started for Wilson, is questionable.
Easley's Improvement: DE Dominique Easley missed two games due to swelling in his surgically repaired left knee but has since emerged as a consistent pass rusher.
After recording just two tackles-for-loss over his first six games, Easley has 1½ sacks and 2½ tackles-for-loss over his past two.
"The one thing that always stands out to me is his effort," defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. "He's trying to chase a guy down, trying to make a play on the sideline, push the pocket, turn and get out on a screen."
USF: Busing to Miami
TAMPA — Like the previous two trips to Miami, USF will ride buses 270 miles on Friday for Saturday's game. Coach Skip Holtz said he prefers that to flying for short trips.
"Sometimes, you have to take a bus to the airport. It takes an hour to board the plane because everybody has to be screened," Holtz said. "Then you get on the plane … get on a bus again. It's like Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Sometimes, you get there, you're worn out because of everything you have to go through to get there.
"This is going to be get on the bus, grab a school book, put a movie on, watch a couple of movies, pull into the stadium and have the opportunity to go to the walk-through. I think it makes for a much smoother transition."
INJURY: Freshman CB Chris Bivins, who has played sparingly after ACL surgery in the winter, tore the same ACL last week in practice and will have surgery today, Holtz said. He might redshirt in 2013 rather than try to rush back as he did this season.
Greg Auman, Times staff writer
FSU: Manuel honored
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State QB EJ Manuel was named a finalist for the Johnny United Golden Arm Award, which goes to the top senior or redshirt junior quarterback and also factors in scholastic achievement, leadership, character and citizenship.
The other finalists: USC's Matt Barkley, Kansas State's Collin Klein, Alabama's A.J. McCarron and West Virginia's Geno Smith. The winner is announced Dec. 7.
Second honor: Manuel accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, the weeklong event in Mobile, Ala., for players projected to be drafted high.
Coley Harvey, Orlando Sentinel
UM: Receiver depth issues
CORAL GABLES — Senior starting WR Davon Johnson is questionable for Saturday after sustaining an undisclosed injury during practice, coach Al Golden said.
"I was just talking about him, about how hard he worked and how far he's come," Golden said of Johnson, who has 21 catches for 348 yards. "I'm disappointed for the young man."
After top pass-catcher Phillip Dorsett, the next healthy receiver on the stat chart is freshman Herb Waters (though Allen Hurns likely will play with a broken thumb).
South Florida Sun Sentinel