Florida no longer has a question mark at the starting quarterback position.
The Gators released their depth chart for the 2018 season on Monday afternoon, which had redshirt sophomore Feleipe Franks listed as the starter ahead of Kyle Trask and Emory Jones.
It seemed to be a tug-of-war between Franks and Trask for the starting job through much of fall camp. Both quarterbacks showed promising flashes here and there, which made it a tough decision for head coach Dan Mullen and quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson.
But it was Franks’ intangibles - his physicality, size, arm strength and ability to extend plays - that gave him the edge over Trask, according to Mullen.
“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. I think he’s got very good athletic ability,” Mullen said about Franks. “He’s got good size to be a physical player. He’s not worried, he’s not nervous about being a physical player. He’s got some toughness that way.”
Franks played in all 11 games -- starting in eight of them -- and threw for 1,438 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions last season. That included his 63-yard game-winning Hail Mary to wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland against Tennessee.
While Trask showed in camp that he was making the necessary improvements to get a grasp of the offense, the Gators needed someone who would give them the best opportunity right away. The 6-foot-6, 239-pound Franks fit the bill.
Mullen made it clear that all three quarterbacks are far from the finished product at this point.
However, he said he doesn’t plan on making the QB situation a back-and-forth affair, and he’ll move forward Franks throughout the season.
“It came down to just watching what Feleipe can do within the offense right now, where they’re all at in their development stages,” Mullen said. “He gives the best chance to win.”
Follow Alanis Thames on Twitter @alanisthames and contact her at athames@alligator.org.
Coach Dan Mullen announced Feleipe Franks as the Gators' starting quarterback heading into Saturday's game against Charleston Southern.
