Franks, the X-factor, if the Gators go from good to great this season
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Feleipe Franks' offseason included the typical work — lifting weights, throwing with receivers, studying film — and some unique adventures in his backyard.
Franks and his four housemates, including a pair of 300-pound offensive linemen, organized "a little wrassling" in their pool. The rules were simple: First to get pushed, pulled, dragged or carried into the deep end and then fully submerged loses.
Franks more than held his own in the friendly competitions, showing toughness and tenacity. Florida is counting on the same from its starting quarterback this season.
And if Franks is good, the Gators could be great.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound junior from Crawfordville is the ultimate Xfactor in Gainesville. It's an odd dynamic considering he's a two-year starter and played the best football of his career down the stretch in 2018. But it's a reality for the Gators in coach Dan Mullen's second season.
"The biggest thing for him is consistency," said Mullen, whose team finished 10-3 in 2018. "He has a much better grasp of the offense, but just his constant, his leadership.
"Is he making everyone around him better? Not just by the plays that he makes, just his presence, how he talks to guys, how he leads them between series, all those things. That's the constant things that we work on."
It wasn't that long ago that Franks was on the verge of getting benched for the fifth time in less than two seasons. He was vilified by fans, openly questioned by two different head coaches and mistrusted by teammates. Self-doubt was a problem, too. But his play late last season seemed to silence critics and solidify his starting spot. After shushing the home crowd during a victory against South Carolina in November, Franks was responsible for 11 touchdowns and no interceptions over the final 13 quarters of the season. He finished the season with 24 touchdown passes, seven rushing scores and six interceptions — the best numbers any Florida QB has posted since 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow graduated more than a decade ago.
Franks showed signs of progress and became an effective runner in Mullen's spread-option offense. But can he take the next step — improving his leadership and his accuracy? His performance in those pool bouts proved he's up for a challenge.
"It doesn't matter to me what people think, but I think I'm one of the best," Franks said. "That's just me having confidence in myself. At the end of the day, my performance on the field is going to tell. . Only time can tell."