Franks, Trask push each other in QB race
GAINESVILLE — Feleipe Franks is the superior Ping-Pong player.
Time will tell whether he is the better quarterback.
If Franks does emerge the winner of the Florida Gators’ highest profile position battle, he can thank fellow redshirt freshman quarterback and close friend Kyle Trask.
“Like they say, iron sharpens iron,” Franks said following Wednesday’s practice.
At the same time, the players say no friction whatsoever exists between UF’s callow signal callers.
Franks and Trask push each other, but also encourage each other.
“We haven't had any tension,” Trask said. “Because we both early enrolled [in January 2016,] we've gotten close ever since.”
The friendly competition extends beyond football — to the tee box, to the 3-point line and to Franks’ wheelhouse.
“I can get him a couple times at
Ping-Pong,” Trask said, “But he practices a lot."
"That’s my favorite game,” Franks said.
Gator fans hope Franks is even better at football.
Inconsistency at quarterback has plagued UF since Tim Tebow’s final season in 2009. Through seven spring practices, Franks appears to be the front-runner to be under center when UF opens the season Sept. 2 against Michigan.
“It’s a cool opportunity, a very cool opportunity,” Franks said. “I’m working my butt off every day for that opportunity.”
Franks has come a long way to position himself to chance to become the Gators’ 10th starting quarterback since Tebow.
Franks, who along with Trask enrolled at UF in January 2016, said he struggled to get acclimated to college football. Learning the playbook, his teammates and his role were at times too much.
“I felt like it was overwhelming,” he said.
Franks’ struggles culminated with his three-interception performance during the 2016 spring game.
“I think it was a case of me just not coming in and getting comfortable with everybody,” he said. “Being here a season, redshirting, it was really good for me, getting to know the players, getting to know the offense, knowing how things operate around here at Florida.
“It’s been really good for me.”
Trask has evolved as a complete quarterback during the past year, too.
The Manvel, Texas, native routinely was the Gators’ best pure passer during preseason practices.
“He’s deadly accurate,” offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said.
But Trask was a back-up in high school who needed to hone his leadership skills.
“I’ve made a big focus on just being more vocal at the line of scrimmage,” he said. “After one year, coming in as an early enrollee to now I feel 100 percent more confident at the line of scrimmage.
“You gotta be confident. Your energy reflects on everybody.”
Franks and Trask bring different styles and strengths to the quarterback position.
“Feleipe, he can throw some deep balls and he can run a little bit,” defensive tackle Taven Bryan said. “Trask, he's just a solid quarterback. Every throw is gonna be perfect. He's very consistent.”
The 6-foot-6, 219-pound Franks can throw a football more than 75 yards, kick 50-yard field goals and boot 60-yard punts. Yet his exceptional physical skills can at times be a curse.
“He’s got great belief in his arm strength,” Nussmeier said. “At times, we’ve got to teach him that you can’t make every throw and sometimes you can’t throw it through three guys.”
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-4, 238-pound Trask at times needs to just let loose.
“He still thinks at times, he may over-analyze a little bit,” Nussmeier said. “It’s about letting it flow.”
Franks and Trask, both age 19, have much to learn during the coming weeks, months and years at UF.
Each plan to grow as quarterbacks together, accept the outcome of the battle for the starting role and one day look back on a job well done.
“That’s what you’ve got to do,” Franks said. “That’s any quarterback competition. It’s important to have that on-field help. Me and him helping each on the field and then as well as off the field. Me and him just helping each other and being there for each other.
“It’s not what people make it to be — hatred. It’s a friendship that could possibly last for a lifetime. It’s really fun."