Cameron Newton will back up Tebow

GAINESVILLE - Freshman Cameron Newton has won the job as Florida's backup quarterback, coach Urban Meyer said after Saturday's practice.

Newton, a College Park, Ga., native, was in a tough battle with freshman John Brantley, the Gatorade Player of the Year last season. Meyer said Newton's participation in spring drills (he was an early enrollee in January) helped Newton.

"He’s not as far advanced as Tim (Tebow) was last year,'' Meyer said. "Tim had that unique skill of being able to drop his pads and run over someone. I think he’s very similar to Tim.''

Meyer praised Brantley and said he will not redshirt him. At least not yet.

"The other quarterback, Johnny, is going to be fine,'' he said. "I think he’s going to  be a great player here. We are not redshirting Johnny Brantley. Now if he doesn’t play, I guess it’s a redshirt. But we’re preparing him to be a starting quarterback at Florida, we don’t just say you’re redshirted. I know some people might want to hear that, but he’s got to be ready to play as well. But the backup quarterback is Cam, and we won’t play Johnny in a mop-up role. We’re going to develop him to be the starting quarterback.''