John Brantley…the future is healing just fine

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After having a spring that builds legends, John Brantley is recovering smoothly from last week's surgery to correct chronic tendonitis in his right ankle. Spoke today with John Brantley III, Brantley's father and coach of Ocala Trinity Catholic, who said his son will be on crutches for four weeks followed by six weeks of rehab.

That should put him at 100 percent by July, Brantley said, ample time to prepare for preseason drills in August. Two-a-days will be crucial for Brantley's development if he plans to filter into the lineup more often in 2009.

Brantley got mop-up time behind Tim Tebow last year as a redshirt freshman, but Coach Urban Meyer has hinted that he'd like to see Brantley play earlier in games, possibly in the first halves.

Brantley III said the coaching staff hasn't hinted to father or son about how playing time will be distributed.  "I guess the situation will dictate all of that," Brantley III said. "Johnny's mentality is that he always has to be prepared."

Brantley dazzled at times during the spring with a monster Saturday scrimmage and a 265-yard, three-touchdown passing performance in the Orange and Blue Game the following week.

"It's really clicked for me that I can do this,"
Brantley said during spring practices. "Once Tebow leaves, and if I'm fortunate enough to get the starting
job, I can run the show"