Feleipe Franks has been benched multiple times already this year, but he’s Florida’s quarterback again going into Saturday.

In the season opener, he was pulled in favor of Malik Zaire, who didn’t fare much better in a 33-17 loss to Michigan. But in Week 4, Franks got the hook to make room for Luke Del Rio, who rallied the Gators to a 28-27 win over Kentucky.

Del Rio managed to wrestle the starting job away from Franks and got the nod last week against Vanderbilt, although he went down with another shoulder injury — he had missed the entirety of spring practice due to shoulder surgery — and is now done for the rest of 2017. Franks was called upon in relief and played reasonably well vs. the Commodores.

Statistically speaking, Franks has been OK. He’s completing 63.5 percent of his throws with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3-to-1.

However, Franks has been a bit feast-or-famine as a passer. From series to series and even down to down, he’s the furthest thing from consistent. Still, he has a cannon for an arm and delivered his fair share of big plays downfield.

The highlight, of course, was his 63-yard TD pass — on the final play of regulation, no less — to receiver Tyrie Cleveland that proved to be the difference in a 26-20 victory over Tennessee. And then on his third snap taking over for Del Rio against Vandy, he found Cleveland again for 49 yards to set up a tying field goal before halftime.

Franks will be in focus with LSU coming to Gainesville, especially since he was originally committed to the Tigers in high school.

With Del Rio sidelined for the rest of the campaign, Zaire is again the immediate backup to Franks. While the transfer from Notre Dame was 9-of-17 passing for 106 yards facing the Wolverines, he lost 29 yards on 8 rushing attempts.

It's not unreasonable to think that Zaire might be a part of the game plan for LSU and have a package built around his dual-threat skills.

That being said, Zaire does have actual history with the Bayou Bengals on the field — perhaps the best game he played in a Fighting Irish uniform, as a matter of fact. Back in the 2014 Music City Bowl, he hit on 12-of-15 throws for 96 yards, ran for 96 yards on 22 carries and found the end zone once each on the ground and through the air in a 31-28 triumph.

It’s not unreasonable to think that Zaire might be a part of the game plan for LSU and have a package built around his dual-threat skills.

“No doubt about it,” Gators coach Jim McElwain said Wednesday on the weekly SEC coaches teleconference. “Some of those things we obviously are aware of and look at. He’s been doing a really good job in the preparation. We’ll see how it plays out come game time.”

McElwain’s ability to take advantage of Franks and his Howitzer have been severely compromised. Antonio Callaway is no closer to returning from suspension, plus the aforementioned Cleveland is now unavailable with a bum ankle.

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland (above) is the offense’s primary target and has three times the receiving yardage of anybody else on the roster. Kadarius Toney is a lot of fun to watch with the football in his hands, but he’s a converted high school QB — the finer points of route-running aren’t mastered overnight — who’s at his best on quick screens and the like.

Even known quantities wideout Brandon Powell and tight end DeAndre Goolsby have been non-factors, totaling just 12 catches.

Zaire quickly went from savior to forgotten man. He's tamed the Tigers before, though. This could be the week for him to reintroduce himself to his new teammates.

Fortunately for McElwain and Co., the running game has started to show some life in the absence of Jordan Scarlett, who is suspended alongside Callaway. Lamical Perine and Malik Davis combined for 5 touchdowns against the ‘Dores.

No matter what happens the rest of the way, Florida more than likely isn’t going to have a high-percentage passing attack any time soon. If Franks were a baseball player, he’d be a power hitter who also happens to strike out a bunch — in order to get the occasional home run, you have to live with all the whiffs. He’s Joey Gallo.

Zaire isn’t a gifted passer, either. But he runs well and might be a solid change-of-pace for an increasingly ground-centric offense.

It’s a mystery why a blue-blood program like UF, which has produced three Heisman Trophy-winning field generals (Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow), continues to have a glaring need at the game’s most important position.

Meanwhile, Will Grier is currently ninth in the nation with a passer efficiency rating of 171.1 in his first year at West Virginia. McElwain has been starting the likes of Treon Harris, Austin Appleby, Del Rio and Franks ever since Grier got suspended by the NCAA for PEDs — he transferred a few months later — with lackluster results.

Grier has thrown for 13 TDs in four games for the Mountaineers, but McElwain has avoided asking himself any “what if?” questions.

“He was a part of this,” he said. “He’s a heck of a player and a good young man. I’m sure he’ll continue to do that. I know he’s a really good player.”

Unquestionably, Grier was more productive in McElwain’s scheme than Franks, Del Rio and Zaire have been. Perhaps some sort of two-man system with Franks doing most of the passing and Zaire most of the running is the way to go.

It’s difficult to know where Franks’s confidence is right now. At first, he was the guy. But then he wasn’t the guy. Then he was the guy again. But then he wasn’t the guy again. And then just when he was getting used to not being the guy again, he became the guy a third time — don’t worry, it’s hard for me to follow, too. Imagine how he feels.

Zaire quickly went from savior to forgotten man. He’s tamed the Tigers before, though. This could be the week for him to reintroduce himself to his new teammates.