Gators QB candidate
Trask embraces his role in QB competition
Kyle Trask embraces the underdog role, and he’s made an early impression on new coach Dan Mullen.
GAINESVILLE — Quarterback Kyle Trask has yet to throw a pass in a college game and did not even start one in high school.
This might make him an unlikely candidate to play one of the nation’s most high-profile positions. Trask sees his unique path as an advantage.
“I’ve always viewed myself as an underdog, even in high school,” he said. “So I’ve always had that mindset, and I feel like that has prepared me to take that next step.”
UF coach Dan Mullen is eager to see one of his quarterbacks make a bold move during the coming weeks and seize the starting job.
On Monday, Mullen said neither Trask nor fellow redshirt sophomore Feleipe Franks had distanced himself in the QB race. Each has a long way to go to meet their head coach’s high expectations of the position.
Trask did, however, make an early positive impression.
Mullen called Trask’s 6-yard completion on a check-down pass the highlight of Friday’s opening practice. Mullen values sound decision-making over a big-play mentality.
“He preaches it’s not the big play. Like I’m not going to have the big play every time,” Trask said. “If you want to be consistent at quarterback, you have to be willing to take the defense gives you. And I think that that’s
what he was so happy about when I checked it down.”
A quarterback cannot always rely on the easy play, either.
The 6-foot-5, 234-pound Trask has the tools to take what the defense does not want him to have, too.
“He’s got great size within the pocket,” Mullen said. “He does a great job of staying tall in the pocket and seeing what’s going on to be able to distribute the ball. He’s got a bunch of arm talent in that he can make throws at different angles on different levels and be accurate with it.”
The 20-year-old also is developing the mentality needed to be a play-making quarterback.
“Good starting quarterbacks, I feel like they’re not afraid to make mistakes,” Trask said. “They’re not afraid. They throw a bad pass, they’re not going to dwell on it. To be a good quarterback in a big-time program, you have to be able to throw the ball without being afraid to mess up.”
By the end of last season, Franks’ confidence had been shaken. During a 38-23 loss to Florida State, he suffered three interceptions and five sacks.
Franks’ lack of pocket awareness, sound decision-making and accuracy were issues much of 2017. But he did start eight games and developed a presence in the locker room.
Meanwhile, Trask’s first pass in a game this season will be his first at UF. Given this lack of playing experience, Trask more often lets his performance at practice speak for him in the huddle.
“I feel like as I’ve been here I’ve gotten a better leader year by year,” he said. “I’ve been here, this is my third year now. I feel like I’m someone that the offense can look to because I’ve been studying my plays a lot.”
Day by day, Trask and Franks continue to learn Mullen’s spread offense.
Trask’s strength is his pinpoint passing. But he also played in a spread attack at Manvel (Texas) High School and is a capable runner, albeit not a natural athlete of Franks’ caliber.
“I’m always more than willing to run the ball, lower my shoulder,” Trask said. “I’m excited for this new offense. It’s a whole new energy around here.”
Some things never change, either. Once again, a program that produced three Heismanwinning quarterbacks is looking for just one who is able to handle the job.
Trask might get his chance. But unlike most people in Gator Nation, he is in no hurry to find out.
“It’s not something I think about,” he said. “It’s not something I think about before I go to bed or nothing like that. Because at the end of the day I can control only what I can control and I try to do what I can to the best of my ability.
“It’s up to the coaches when they want to make a decision. It’s their decision.” egthompson@ orlandozentinel.com