QB Franks among spring-game surprises
GAINESVILLE — The versatility of Feleipe Franks is among the three things we learned during the Florida Gators’ spring game. That’s a start for a player who was the leading scapegoat for last season’s 4-7 campaign.
Couple Franks’ arm strength with some running ability and Mullen, who has a Midas touch with QBs, might have something to work with. Franks’ decision-making is the key. It remains a work in progress.
But someone will line up under center during the Sept. 1 season opener against Charleston Southern. The choice is among Franks, fellow redshirt sophomore Kyle Trask or first-year freshman Emory Jones. Trask never even started a high school game and Jones, a 17-year-old early enrollee, should be in a high school for another month.
Whether Franks will be under center on Oct. 1 is the bigger question.
For now, he is the frontrunner for the job. He also is no slouch athletically.
When preseason practices open in Auguest, Mullen will have to take Franks’ considerable talents and continue to mold them.
Clayton had a team-high two sacks Saturday and 2.5 sacks during the team’s only scrimmage open to the media. Last season as a sophomore, he had one sack in 11 games.
The 6-foot-2, 254-pound junior said Grantham’s 3-4 scheme is making all the difference.
The past two seasons coaches asked Clayton to take on blockers. Grantham and defensive line coach Sal Sunseri are looking to capitalize on the explosiveness and pass-rushing ability that made Clayton the top-rated recruit in UF’s 2016 class.
“I’m just moving all around,” Clayton said. “We’re not just playing gaps, we’re not just playing blocks. This year we’re going to move you around, we’re gonna stand you up, rush you off the edge, cover the tight end, cover guys.
“This defense really fits me. I think this is my defense.”
Clayton is one of several Gators’ pass rushers who can create havoc coming off the edge. CeCe Jefferson, who was injured Saturday, Jabari Zuniga and Jachai Polite give Grantham options.
After two frustrating seasons, though, Clayton’s time finally seems to have arrived.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’m just making plays and trying to make a name for myself.”
Jim McElwain’s aloofness and Will Muschamp’s single-mindedness have created the ideal climate for Mullen to step in and thrive.
Unlike McElwain, Mullen loves to connect with former players and fans. Unlike the defensiveminded Muschamp, Mullen lives to score points.
At times, Saturday’s spring game came a Fumblerooski shy of going off the rails. A touchdown pass on a “sleeper play” to former Gators DB Lawrence Wright went down as UF’s first touchdown after four drives generated a single field goal.
But Mullen understands college football is entertainment as much as seriousminded business.
“I want to have fun,” he said. “I mean, life’s too short. We’re going to have fun. Now I’m competitive and I want to win, but we’re going to have fun doing this.”
Steve Spurrier’s Fun ’n’ Gun might be a distant memory. But no Gators coach since the Head Ball Coach has displayed quite the energy and enthusiasm or connected with Gator Nation like Mullen has since his arrival.