GAINESVILLE -- Florida’s coaches want starting quarterback Jeff Driskel to stop taking so many hits. That starts with getting rid of the football, as Driskel was sacked eight times against Texas A&M on Saturday, although several of them came when the quarterback simply ran out of bounds. But the sophomore known for his ability to tuck it and run has also has taken a few big shots downfield in the rushing game.

“The more you run downfield, someone is going to take a shot at you,” offensive coordinator Brent Pease said Tuesday. “He’s just got to learn to get down.”

Driskel, though, said he isn’t worried about taking a hit, adding that it would be different for him because he’s never done it in the past.

“You never want to take that many hits … but I’m a bigger guy I can take a couple of hits,” he said. “If I’m going to get popped and know it’s coming I’ll slide, but I’m a bigger guy and feel like I can put my head down and get a few more yards.”

Pease said he thinks Driskel is nonchalant about getting hit because of his size at 6-4, 237 pounds, but that attitude likely will change.

“He probably didn’t do it in high school and probably hasn’t taken a direct hit to really ring his bell a little bit,” Pease said. “He’ll learn.”

Gillislee practicing

After straining his groin at Texas A&M, starting running back Mike Gillislee practiced Monday and Tuesday.

Monday’s practice was just a light walk-through of the game plan for Saturday against Tennessee, Pease said, and Gillislee fully participated. Pease said Gillislee would “take what he can” during Tuesday’s practice.

“In any situation, whether he’s a little sore or not, he understands his reps now as far as practice goes,” Pease said. “So he doesn’t need as many.”