McElwain Names Franks Gators' Starting QB in Opener

Feleipe Franks looks downfield during a recent Gators practice. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

McElwain Names Franks Gators' Starting QB in Opener

Wednesday, August 30, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter

Redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks will take the first snaps of his college career on Saturday.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators have a starting quarterback for the Michigan game.

Florida head coach Jim McElwain announced following Wednesday's practice that Feleipe Franks has earned the starting nod against the Wolverines. Franks, a redshirt freshman from Crawfordville, Fla., has yet to take a snap in a regular-season game.

"He deserves it," McElwain said on Wednesday. "I think the big thing is the whole body of work from spring on. Him being there, being a part of that, I think he was a little bit ahead. He's done a really good job."

Franks is set to become the first freshman to start a season opener for the Gators since redshirt freshman Kyle Morris in 1988. This marks the fourth consecutive season the Gators will have a different starting quarterback in the season opener.

McElwain's announcement capped an intriguing three-man race for the job during preseason camp and into game week. The No. 17 Gators face No. 11 Michigan in three days at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, marking the first time Florida has opened a season outside the Sunshine State in 38 years.

Franks was atop the depth chart after spring camp during a battle with fellow redshirt freshman Kyle Trask. However, over the summer former Gators starter Luke Del Rio rejoined the mix and the Gators added fifth-year senior Malik Zaire, who transferred as a graduate student from Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility.

Franks has the most attractive physical tools among the trio. McElwain said he met with the trio earlier Wednesday and informed them of the plan. The rest of the team was told prior to practice.

"They kind of probably saw that coming based on how the reps were breaking up, but it isn't like they jumped up and down or sat there and cried,'' McElwain said. "It's just they know they have to play hard to go have an opportunity to win. They'll do that.

"Obviously, the other guys were disappointed, and yet the other guys were also there to be supportive. They've been in those situations. It's not like they're not going to be ready to play. I think when you look at the full body of work, you know what, he deserved it."

The 6-foot-6, 219-pound Franks was a two-time Class 5A All-State selection in high school and threw for 2,766 yards and 35 touchdowns his senior season, leading Wakulla High to the state championship game. Franks has the strongest arm of the three and the sturdiest build to withstand the physical toll that can come with playing the position.

Despite the addition of Zaire and return of Del Rio, Franks didn't shy away from the competition against the more seasoned veterans.

"It brought out a fire in me,'' he said recently. "I go out there every day just to get better. The competitor that I am, I want to do the best I can do."

Franks impressed junior starting left tackle Martez Ivey by the way he progressed from spring camp to the preseason. Ivey will be responsible for protecting Franks' blind side on Saturday.

"He's more confident. He's hard working now, more than he's ever been since the competition came in with Malik Zaire," Ivey said recently. "He's just been working hard and he's just a whole different Feleipe from last year."

Originally committed to LSU, Franks signed with the Gators amid the usual fanfare that comes with the addition of a highly-touted quarterback prospect.

He sat behind Del Rio and Austin Appleby a year ago and tried to learn as much as possible. Once his opportunity came, Franks was determined to make the most of it.

"There wasn't that one moment when it clicked," Franks said last week. "Since spring last year, I focused on doing the little things right. You do that over a period of time, it starts showing and people start seeing it."

McElwain saw enough to name Franks the starter. The starter on the biggest stage for a Gators' season opener in decades.

"I think the big thing in that, he's going to be excited, there's no doubt about it, but in that big stage the guy's got a big arm, too,'' McElwain said. "You know what, he's been in those. He's played in state championship games. He'll be ready to go."