Over winter break, Florida backup quarterback Justin Midgett, a redshirt freshman, transferred to Eastern, rejoining his Charlotte High School (Punta Gorda, Fla.) teammate sophomore wide receiver Ryan Voss.

Midgett spent two years with the Gators, one as a redshirt and one as a backup to the SEC’s passing leader, sophomore Chris Leak, but never saw any action.

While Leak appeared to have the starting job for the Gators locked up for the next two years, Midgett decided to transfer.

“I made the decision (to leave Florida) after the Florida State game (on Nov. 20),” Midgett said. “I thought it was time for a change of scenery.”

Midgett looked at several Division I and I-AA schools before making his decision to come to Eastern.

During that process, he remembered his high school teammate.

“I promised (Ryan Voss) that if I ever left Florida I would come play here,” Midget said.

Midgett and Voss played baseball and basketball together in high school along with football, and the two have been friends since middle school, Voss said.

“I was kind of in his ear about (coming to Eastern),” Voss said. “I’m excited. I think he’ll step right in for Matt (Schabert).”

Schabert was also a Division I transfer, coming to Eastern from Wisconsin, and earned second team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in his final season of eligibility.

One advantage Midgett will have over Schabert is that he will be able to participate in spring ball, unlike Schabert who was a late transfer.

“He’ll be way ahead of Matt Schabert,” Eastern Head Coach Bob Spoo said. “(Midgett) was a great acquisition for us, and it’s nice when you can get somebody from that caliber of a program.”

Midgett is more of a pocket passer than Schabert, Voss said, and will sit back waiting to throw unlike Schabert who liked to scramble as the pocket broke down.

Over winter break, Voss and Midgett got together with some other high school teammates and played seven-on-seven football, Voss said.

“(Voss and I) had a connection in high school,” Midgett said. “I’m sure it will only take a couple throws to get that back.”

Another reason Midgett left Florida was to get noticed by NFL scouts. And Voss told him that he could attract attention anywhere he played, but not if he was backing up Leak.

Midgett’s official decision to come to Eastern came shortly after Christmas, and he still hasn’t found a place to stay.

“I haven’t really had a chance to settle in and see campus,” Midgett said. “So far I’ve been sleeping on Ryan’s couch.”

And so far, Midgett said he likes what he’s seen of campus, but does have one complaint about Charleston.

“It’s cold as hell,” Midgett said. “When I left Florida it was like 70, and I come here and it’s 30.”

Who is Justin Midgett?

Justin Midgett, sophomore quarterback

-All-State (4a) at Charlotte High School (Punta Gorda, Fla.)

-Passed for 2,489 yards and 21 touchdowns his senior year

-Rated No. 8 pro style quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com after high school

-Played in California-Florida All-Star game in high school

-Most Valuable Player of 2002 Gator football camp

-Named Top QB at 2001 Miami Nike camp

-Set school records for rear passing guards, touchdowns and wins in high school