Mullen: Franks Provides Best Chance to Win

Feleipe Franks is set to become the first Gators quarterback to start back-to-back season openers since Jeff Driskel in 2014. (Photo: Matt Stamey/UAA Communications)

Mullen: Franks Provides Best Chance to Win

Monday, August 27, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Feleipe Franks is back where he finished last season: as Florida's starting quarterback.

Florida head coach Dan Mullen announced Monday that Franks will open the season as the starter when the Gators host Charleston Southern on Saturday night (7:30, SEC Network) at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. A redshirt sophomore from Crawfordville, Fla., Franks played in all 11 games last season, starting eight.

When Mullen took over the program, he re-opened the competition at the position in the spring between Franks, fellow redshirt sophomore Kyle Trask, redshirt freshman Jake Allen and true freshman Emory Jones. Franks ended spring as the projected starter.

Meanwhile, Allen transferred to Dartmouth after spring practice, leaving it a three-man battle this fall. Once again, Franks impressed Mullen and quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson enough to fend off Trask and Jones. Franks is set to become the first Gators quarterback since Jeff Driskel in 2014 to start back-to-back season openers.

"We looked at who would give us the best opportunity to win now,'' Mullen said. "We have some young quarterbacks that I think all have really bright futures in their development. All of them are a long way from the finished product we need to see."

Franks completed 54.6 percent of his passes (125 of 229) last season for 1,438 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. His most memorable throw was a game-winning 63-yard touchdown pass to Tyrie Cleveland on the final play to beat Southeastern Conference East rival Tennessee.

Last year, Franks became the first freshman to start a season opener for the Gators since redshirt freshman Kyle Morris in 1988, beating out Trask and veterans Luke Del Rio and Malik Zaire for the job. Franks lost the job twice during the regular season, getting replaced by Del Rio in Florida's victory at Kentucky. Franks regained the job when Del Rio was lost for the season due to a shoulder injury against Vanderbilt.

Following the departure of head coach Jim McElwain, interim head coach Randy Shannon named Zaire the starter. Zaire started two games late in the season before suffering a season-ending injury at South Carolina. Once again, Franks regained the job and started the final two games of Florida's 4-7 season, a victory over UAB to snap a five-game losing streak and a 38-22 loss at home to Florida State.

Mullen sees the same tools that helped Franks earn the job under the previous staff.

"Obviously, he's got a strong arm. He can do some different things, make throws that a lot of people can't just on pure talent,'' Mullen said. "He's got very good athletic ability."

Franks' best game statistically was the win over the Vols on Sept. 16 at the Swamp. He completed 18 of 28 passes for a career-high 212 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

While Franks faced competition for the job in camp, his teammates are confident in his ability.

"He's matured a lot,'' offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor said. "Feleipe is a great leader. You can tell he is very comfortable in what [offense] we run. I feel like he's doing a good job with that."

As a true freshman in 2016, Franks sat behind Del Rio and graduate transfer Austin Appleby.