College Football 2011: Jeff Driskel and 5 Surprise Impact Players for the Gators

In order for the Florida Gators to have success in 2011, they will need contributions from players in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams.

While many fans are looking at players like John Brantley, Chris Rainey and Ronald Powell to lead the Gators this season, Florida's roster is full of high-potential players who could step up at any time.

It will be these high-potential players who could separate Florida from the rest of the SEC East and even the entire conference.

Here are five surprise impact players for the Florida Gators in 2011.

5. Dominique Easley, DE

Dominique Easley came into Florida as a highly-touted defensive line recruit. 

Along with fellow freshman defensive linemen Ronald Powell and Sharrif Floyd, Easley was supposed to make a huge impact in 2010.

However, amidst some off-the-field issues and injury concerns, Easley only saw limited action in six games last season. There were even rumors he might transfer in the offseason, but he ended up staying.

Coming into this season, Easley has reportedly resolved all of his issues and has a renewed focus. Dan Quinn and the new defensive coaching staff are high on him and have seen much improvement from last year. And with the departure of Justin Trattou and Powell moving to the linebacker position, Easley has an excellent chance at competing for the starting defensive end job.

His quickness off the line was almost unmatched by any other prospect in his recruiting class, and he has the ability to be a relentless pass-rusher.

Easley should have a big sophomore year and will be one of the main contributors to this year's defensive line.

4. Quinton Dunbar, WR

Wide receiver Quinton Dunbar did not see much action in 2010, only taking the field against Miami University and LSU.

But Dunbar has made significant strides this spring and summer in trying to become a playmaking wide receiver.

The Gators really did not have any viable option at wide receiver last season, so it seems that starting job will be up for grabs during summer camp.

So far in camp, Dunbar has taken leadership over the younger players while seeing a lot of snaps with starting quarterback John Brantley.

Dunbar was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and a standout at Booker T. Washington.

With an offense that will be searching for an identity, Dunbar will have an excellent opportunity to prove himself to the coaching staff.

And with his talent, it is very likely we could be seeing a lot of Dunbar in 2011.

3. Robert Clark, WR

Similar to Quinton Dunbar's situation, Robert Clark has an excellent opportunity to step up and contribute right away as a playmaking wide receiver.

However, unlike Dunbar, Clark saw some significant playing time in 2010 and showed a good sample of what he can bring to the team.

He is very undersized at 5'8", but Clark has electric speed and shifty moves he utilizes in the open field, often making defenders miss.

Clark only caught seven passes in all of 2010, but one of those receptions was the Gator's lone touchdown in their 31-7 loss against Florida State. With that reception, he has shown the new coaching staff he has what it takes to play well in the big games. This very well could separate him from the other wide receivers on the roster.

Look for Clark to continue his momentum from 2010, and impress the coaching staff and fans with his catching and open-field running ability.

2. Valdez Showers, DB

Valdez Showers will be a true freshman in 2011, but he has the ability to make an immediate impact for the Gators.

To put it simply, the Gators' secondary could be a weakness for the defense. With the departures of Ahmad Black, Janoris Jenkins and Will Hill, the Florida secondary will feature many first-time starters, especially at cornerback.

Right now, the Gators' starting cornerbacks will most likely be Jeremy Brown, Cody Riggs and Moses Jenkins—and both Brown and Jenkins severely underperformed in 2010.

That leaves the door open for true freshmen like Marcus Roberson and Showers to show the coaching staff what they can do.

Showers, in particular, will be one player to watch.

He was Player of the Year in Michigan his senior season, and he has a lot of experience on the offensive side of the ball too. Therefore, Showers will be an excellent option at running back interceptions or fumble recoveries. He has the potential to make a defensive touchdown every time with his vision while running with the football.

Showers was only a three-star prospect coming out of high school, so he will be looking to prove many people wrong about him. With excellent size and a 4.5. 40-yard dash, Showers is simply an explosive athlete who will be able to find a spot on the field for the Gators in no time.

1. Jeff Driskel, QB

He has not even begun his freshman season at Florida, and already Jeff Driskel is being thought of as the next Tim Tebow.

It might be his size, throwing power or ability to run out of the pocket, but Driskel will be able make a name for himself while at Florida.

However, he comes in as a backup to redshirt senior John Brantley. 

While I don't believe Driskel will be the starting quarterback at any point in 2011, I still think he will have a significant impact on the Gators' offense; I see Driskel taking on a role similar to Tebow's role his freshman season.

With his running ability and size, Driskel would be an excellent option to spell John Brantley in certain situations. He provides a very different type of game than that of Brantley, so the occasional switch of quarterbacks could go a long way in keeping the defense off track.

And much like Tebow, Driskel has too much talent to keep off the field. He was the best high school quarterback in the nation, and I believe he deserves the opportunity to show he can contribute to the offense, even in a limited role.

Driskel will show his exceptional ability this season and will build himself a foundation for the next few seasons.