No timetable for choosing quarterback
Last year’s starter, Franks, likely gets first shot in battle with Trask, Jones.
GAINESVILLE — Almost predictably, the first football question fired at coach Dan Mullen during the University of Florida’s media day Thursday had to do with the quarterback competition.
Is there a timeline for naming a starter?
He’s heard this one before. Lots of times. Right in his own living room, as a matter of fact.
“I get this question from my wife,” Mullen said. “I get it from her quite a bit: ‘Can we get this resolved, can we have a starter that we feel good about?’” So is there a timetable?
Well, no.
“I don’t know when we’re going to be ready to make that decision,” Mullen said. “I hope it’s a clear-cut decision that we know this person is going to give us the best opportunity to win games and lead our program into the future.
“Also, I have to make sure that we have one that we feel good about as a starter, but you’re talking whoever our backup is is also one play away from being a starter.”
The search for a starting quarterback began in earnest Friday with the opening of fall camp. Redshirt sophomores Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask and true freshman Emory Jones are about even in the competition after there was little separation among the three in spring practice.
Franks, last year’s starter, likely will get most of the early reps with the No. 1 offense, but all three are in the mix.
“It’s going to be intense, but it’s going to be exciting,” Trask said. “You come to a big university to compete in spots like this. You come to play in places like The Swamp. I’m really excited for this
competition. Feleipe, he’s a great competitor. We’re both great competitors. It’s going to be a fun and intense competition. Friendly.”
Said Franks: “I’m a competitor. I love competition.”
Franks and Trask are similar in style — traditional pocket passers athletic enough to make plays with their legs if necessary. Jones, an early enrollee, is more of a dualthreat quarterback.
Franks made some impressive plays last season and exhibited a big-time arm at times, including his 63-yard touchdown pass to Tyrie Cleveland on the game’s final play to beat Tennessee.
But he also struggled with consistency, particularly with his reads and accuracy.
“He has a tremendous skill set,” Mullen said. “He has the ability to make big plays. He has great athletic ability, has a really strong arm.”
Franks has shown he can make spectacular plays with his arm. Now he needs to show he can consistently make the routine throws that can start drives or keep them alive.
Mullen calls those “non-spectacular plays.”
“Learning how to make the non-spectacular plays and making them every single snap with consistency is really a huge trait for a quarterback,” Mullen said. “Does Feleipe have the skill set to do it? Absolutely.”
While Franks was gaining experience on the field last season, Trask was stuck on the sideline with an injured knee.
Franks and Trask were asked what they feel they have to do to win the starting job.
“I think there are a lot of things coach is looking for,” Franks said. “Somebody who can lead the team, get drives started, keep us on the field. What it boils down to is who’s more comfortable in the offense, who the team rallies around.”
Trask said he needs to continue to show progress.
“I feel like to win the job, I’ve just got to keep believing in myself and keep doing what the coaches want me to do to the best of my ability,” he said.
Mullen said earlier this summer that there’s a chance he could end up playing two quarterbacks early in the season, maybe all three.
Junior safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson said he would be comfortable with that.
“All three of our quarterbacks can help us in different ways,” he said. “I feel like all three of our quarterbacks are going to be utilized this season.”
So Mullen has options. What he doesn’t have is a timeline for naming a starter for the Sept. 1 opener against Charleston Southern.