Third-year sophomore Feleipe Franks started eight games last season, and will enter 2018 fall camp as (far and away) the most experienced quarterback on the Florida roster.
Countdown to Camp: Quarterbacks
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 | Football, Chris Harry
The first installment of our position-by-position look at the Gators heading toward the start of preseason practice Aug. 3.
Time for our "Countdown to Camp" series previewing the position groupings on offense, defense and special teams, as the Gators look to bounce back from a 4-7 season marred by another unproductive offense, some frustrating and close midseason losses, and a coaching change.
What better place to start than under center?
QUARTERBACKS
They're back: Feleipe Franks (6-5, 227, R-Sophomore); Kyle Trask (6-5, 239, R-Sophomore).
Fresh faces: Emory Jones (6-2, 192, Freshman).
Overview: The Gators used three quarterbacks (and started three) last season. The overall results and inability to field a quality passing attack was pretty much on par with what the program has showed since saying goodbye to Tim Tebow eight seasons ago, as Florida finished last in the Southeastern Conference it total offense and 110th in the nation in 2017 at just 335.9 yards per game, including 102nd in passing (179.5 ypg). Franks won the job as a redshirt freshman by out-performing fourth-year junior Luke Del Rio and Malik Zaire, the Notre Dame grad transfer, during the preseason. He eventually was replaced by Del Rio, who lasted one start before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Another candidate, Trask, broke his foot in the preseason and was done for the year. Trask definitely would have gotten a look, but wasn't cleared medically until the season was over. Fast forward to the spring. Jones was a four-star prospect who flipped from a commitment to Ohio State, signed early with the Gators and enrolled for the spring semester. Now, there are just three QBs on scholarship on the entire roster, after Del Rio graduated and freshman Jake Allen transferred to Dartmouth during the offseason. So, Franks is far and away the most experienced of the three, and the only QB with any collegiate statistics. In eight starts, Franks completed 125 of 229 passes (54.6 percent) for 1,438 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. As everyone saw at times (certainly against Tennessee), the arm strength stands out. Case in point: Mullen was mic'd up for a spring practice when he saw Franks, under pressure, scramble from the pocket, slip to his right and — off balance and off his back foot — flip a bomb downfield that wideout Van Jefferson caught for a touchdown. Perfect throw. Mullen covered his mouth and remarked to an assistant, "He just threw that 50 yards!" Mullen recruited Franks to Mississippi State. In fact, the Bulldogs were the second to offer Franks after Clemson, so there is familiarity there beyond what Mullen learned in the spring. The biggest thing for Franks, and what will be an ongoing topic through training camp and on into the season, will be his trust and comfort level in the offensive line. Can he get to a point where he can go through progressions (at least more than one), and not feel so much pressure that he's taking the first read or just taking off to run when nothing's there? Though Franks was billed as a classic dropback/pocket passer, he is an underrated runner, demonstrated by that electrifying 78-yard jaunt against Texas A&M (the longest run by a UF quarterback in program history). In Mullen's spread offense, mobility and throwing on the run will be pivotal. Those were traits Trask was thought to maybe hold on edge, but the only live bullets he has faced since arriving at Florida are in scrimmages and spring games — and no one is hitting QBs in those settings. Trask, in fact, hasn't seen much of any football at any level, having sat behind D'Eriq King (now starting at the University of Houston) his entire prep career in Texas. He has good size and arm strength, but basically no resume. Jones also has mobility, but showed during the spring he is far from a polished passer, especially when it comes to accuracy.
If the season started today: Franks is the overwhelming favorite to be under center when the Gators line up against Charleston Southern, barring an injury or what would have to be considered unforeseen circumstances. An example of the latter would be a monumental spurt in development from either Trask or Jones during the four weeks of camp that would have to overtake what Franks brings to the table, especially on the experience front.
Speculation: Of course, a quarterback (and his offense) can only be as good as the offensive line, and that unit, despite its relative experience, not only struggled last season, but also in the spring under the new staff. For the offense to make significant strides — and if some explosive plays are in the future for whoever is taking snaps this fall — huge strides will have to be taken by guys up front.
Up next: Running backs
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballInside Gators Football presented by UF Health 11-4-25
Tuesday, November 04
Todd Golden and Thomas Haugh Postgame Press Conference 11-3-25
Tuesday, November 04
Me'Arah O'Neal, Kelly Rae Finley, Liv McGill Press Conference 11-3-25
Tuesday, November 04
Gators Clinch 2025 SEC Cross Country Championship
Monday, November 03
