Florida Gators redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks will make his first career collegiate start on Saturday against the 11th ranked Michigan Wolverines.
And to think, if things would have played out differently, he could’ve been making the start against BYU for the LSU Tigers instead.
In 2014, the former four-star recruit committed to Les Miles at LSU. Then, in November of 2015, he backed off from his decision and ultimately committed to Florida less than a week later.
There is no way to know, and it is highly unlikely, but had Franks stuck to his commitment, Miles might still be the head coach of the Tigers. Despite their past, there are no hard feelings between them.
Miles is in Arlington for Florida’s season opener as an analyst for SEC Nation. He spoke with the media on Friday, giving his thoughts on Franks and his keys to success in this game.
“He is a wonderful young man,” said Miles. “He is smart as a whip and he can throw the football. He’s a full 6’6 220-pounds and he has great zip on the ball. I think the key pieces will be the touch throw. That guy has a fastball arm. He has to make a touch throw. If he does that tomorrow and throws the ball like he’s capable, he will be the Feleipe Franks that we recruited.”
That fastball arm is a large part of why he was named the starter. He will have to find a way to keep that under control on the biggest stage of his young career on Saturday. If he can do that, he will prove why he won the job over Malik Zaire and Luke Del Rio.