Franks Proved His Mettle in Response to Benching

Quarterback Feleipe Franks threw for 185 yards and helped the Gators to a win over Vanderbilt on Saturday after replacing injured starter Luke Del Rio. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

Franks Proved His Mettle in Response to Benching

Saturday, September 30, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter

Redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks impressive in Saturday's win, seven days after getting benched at Kentucky.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – You feel awful for Luke Del Rio. You feel hopeful for Feleipe Franks.

You wonder what might have been with Del Rio. You wonder what might be with Franks.

The Gators' quarterback quandary took another turn Saturday afternoon in UF's 38-24 victory over Vanderbilt. You knew right way it was not good for Del Rio.

By the time you finished watching the replay of Del Rio being hit by Vanderbilt defensive end Dare Odeyingbo on TV, you looked down at the sideline and saw Franks grab his helmet and start to warm up.

Del Rio landed on his left shoulder, which was surgically repaired in the offseason. He had surgery on his right shoulder, too. Del Rio stayed down and you didn't need a medical license to tell he was not staying in the game. The final diagnosis: broken collarbone, surgery on Monday according to head coach Jim McElwain.

"I'm definitely praying for him,'' said receiver Freddie Swain, who caught the game-tying touchdown pass from Del Rio a week ago at Kentucky. "I hate to see him go like that."

"It's hard,'' McElwain said. "You just feel horrible for him, and yet the guys rallied behind Feleipe."

That they did as Franks, seven days after being replaced by Del Rio in Florida's last-minute 28-27 win at Kentucky, directed the way with the help of 218 rushing yards.

Del Rio left the game on an 11-yard completion to Brandon Powell on third-and-13. Florida punted once Del Rio was able to leave the field.

Vanderbilt responded by driving 60 yards on nine plays, capped by Tommy Openshaw's 42-yard field goal to put the Commodores up for the first time in the game with 43 seconds left in the first half.

Franks took over and on his third snap, completed a 49-yard pass to Tyrie Cleveland that moved the Gators to Vanderbilt's 9. The play set up a 21-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro on the final play of the first half to tie the game.

45521 — Luke Del Rio is helped to the sideline after suffering a season-ending injury on Saturday. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

It was a big momentum shifter.

"He did a really good job I thought of not forcing anything,'' McElwain said. "He doesn't waver. He is very steady in everything he does and I think it really showed up on that drive."

With Franks in total control of the offense after halftime, the Gators rolled to a season-high 467 yards and third consecutive win. Franks finished 10 of 14 for 185 yards.

A week ago, it felt like the Gators had possibly found their starting quarterback in Del Rio. A week later, Franks is clearly the guy.

He proved he could handle the benching and Del Rio's first start of the season all week in practice according to his teammates.

"In a situation like that, chances are that player may go in the tank,'' Swain said. "He came in and didn't worry what he was up against. He never showed anything. He just kept playing and kept progressing."

According to the quarterback-battle playbook, the quarterbacks usually get along well and root for one another. Franks and Del Rio abided by the playbook all throughout preseason camp and into the season.

The support looked genuine at Kentucky when Franks was benched and remained engaged with Del Rio as he led the Gators back from a 13-point deficit. And it appeared genuine on Saturday as Del Rio said something to Franks as he headed to the locker room. Franks patted him on the stomach and at halftime wrote Del Rio's name underneath his wristband to offer support for his fallen teammate.

"It's tough when you go out there and take a big hit like that and you get hurt," Franks said. "We're feeling for him. All we can do is pray for him. Hopefully he gets a speedy recovery."

If Del Rio's season-ending injury was the first-half story, Franks' re-emergence earned the second-half headlines.

Offensive line Jawaan Taylor said it was a seamless transition when Franks came in and took charge of the huddle.

"He was in the right place from the start,'' Taylor said. "He came in just ready to dominate. That's all it was really. He was calm and he just took over. That's what I love about Feleipe. He doesn't let anything get to him."

Franks followed up his 49-yard pass to Cleveland with a 29-yard pass to Moral Stephens and a 33-yard tipped pass to Swain in the third quarter as the Gators took control.

More than anything, though, Franks' performance should provide Florida fans a dose of comfort. To me, he looked more comfortable than in any of his three starts. A benching like last week at Kentucky would derail many young quarterbacks.

Franks stayed on the tracks.

"Feleipe came in and took care of business,'' McElwain said. "Thought he handled it well. We talked about it all week. Obviously, he was disappointed as any competitor would be. When you look at the last game, he was one of the first guys excited for the win and he handled it the way a competitor should, but better than that, the way a good teammate should.

"It was great to see. He knew his time was not done."

As it turned out, far from it. Franks is back where he started: Florida's starting quarterback.

He played Saturday as if he intends to keep a tight grip on the job.