Florida Gators need to find a quarterback for the future

Feleipe Franks was not ready to be the starting quarterback of the Florida Gators.

To no fault of his own Franks was thrust into the starting role against Michigan. Former head coach Jim McElwain almost immediately regretted it, replacing him with Malik Zaire. Franks started and played the entire game against Tennessee but was again pulled against Kentucky before ultimately being benched in favor of Luke Del Rio.

It would have remained that way if Del Rio’s collarbone didn’t snap under the weight of a Vanderbilt defensive lineman the next week.

Then, inexplicably, McElwain started Franks, who was clearly overwhelmed and unprepared to start at quarterback in the next three games. McElwain had tied his wagon to Franks, clearly, and Florida lost the next three games after beating Vanderbilt.

“I feel as though he kind of got thrown into the position a little bit before he was ready to play,” senior running back Mark Thompson said.

It took McElwain getting fired and Randy Shannon taking over as interim head coach for the long awaited and necessary change to be made. Shannon gave graduate transfer Malik Zaire the nod against Missouri. Zaire was pulled late in a blowout loss for Franks but remained the starter until he too was injured and lost for the season.

In the season finale, Franks was sacked and fumbled on the second drive of the game. Florida defensive lineman Jacob Pugh scooped it and scored. It would be the first of many miscues, over throws, arrant passes and turnovers on the day. Florida State scored four of their five touchdowns directly after or on Franks’ turnovers.

Yet, the quarterback’s confidence, for whatever reason, remained unfazed. Despite a season where he threw nine touchdowns and seven interceptions while being replaced as the starter in more than half of the games he played where there was a warm body available behind him.

“Tom Brady throws three interceptions, anybody does it,” Franks said It’s just part of the game, part of playing quarterback. That’s what a lot of people don’t realize.”

Tom Brady has thrown two interceptions in 380 attempts in 2017. In 2016 he threw two interceptions in 432 attempts.

Maybe you should have picked a different quarterback to compare yourself to?

Florida is without a head coach, but they’re also without a quarterback. Kyle Trask missed the season with a foot injury. Freshman Jake Allen battled a back injury all year and the status of 2018 quarterback commit Matt Corral is up in the air. 2017 showed us that Franks has the physical talent but he spent two years, twenty-four months, with the same playbook and this was Thompson’s assessment of where Franks was after the 11th game of the season.

“He’s still picking up the offense, learning the offense,” Thompson said.

How is that possible? How can you let that happen?

Franks three interceptions and fumble led to 28 points for Florida State. A head coach that had checked out before October and given a second and third chance due to injuries gave him a chance. He’s not the quarterback of the future for the Florida Gators, a statement that may read harshly if you didn’t watch Florida football in 2017.

“Quarterbacks throw interceptions. It’s part of the game,” said Franks. “There’s going to be a lot more throughout my whole career.”

There will be. Not at Florida.