Kyle Trask gives his perspective on his journey from a backup for '6 or 7 years' to Heisman contender
For several of the Heisman Trophy contenders this year, they took a winding path to become the star quarterback at their school. Florida QB Kyle Trask is definitely in that group, as the redshirt senior is in his first full season at the helm of the Gators offense.
Radio host Dan Patrick appeared to be dumbfounded about Trask’s story when he had the Florida quarterback on his show as a guest. Trask tried to explain what it’s been like to be a backup in high school, and never start a game, and then not start a game in college until his redshirt junior season. Patrick considered Trask the leading candidate for the Heisman and “feels like an overnight sensation.”
“It’s been a crazy journey, it’s been a lot of hard work and just persistence and just trusting the process,” Trask said. “At the end of the day, I’m glad to be where I am now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Trask noted that, “I almost got my degree at Florida before I stepped foot on the field.”
Patrick again was amazed when he pointed out Trask’s numbers of 31 touchdowns and three interceptions.
“I was a backup for six or seven years, but in my head, I knew I was going to get that opportunity,” he said. “So I kind of just grinded it out and I finally got my shot, and I just tried to make the most of it.”
Trask said it was “very humbling” to backup the likes of Feleipe Franks at Florida and D’Eriq King in high school. He said it was tough to put in the work during the week only to be on the sideline on game day. But it taught him a lot about hard work and staying consistent in his preparation.
“You’re a backup, so you’re only one play away from going in the game, so you’ve got to be ready to go and just as prepared as the starter,” Trask said.
If he wins the Heisman (and i think he has a good shot) it’ll be an E-60 sports story for the ages. I believe Trask and Mac Jones at Bama are the frontrunners.
If I had a vote it would be for Trask.
The longest string of games as a backup since Hiram Ledbetter went 224 games at Rutgers from 1908 to 1911. That’s a lot of games.
I wonder what the record is for the number of games spent as a backup in high school and college among Heisman trophy winning QBs.
Or Heisman trophy winners in general
Kyle Trask is an amazing person and player. Best story in college football – especially in a year we’re only playing SEC schools. Definitely a top Heisman worthy candidate.
This is a great story I must admit. Trask from benchwarmer to Heisman and good ol Mullet gets all the credit…only 1 problem with the fairytale…Trask was never given the opportunity before Franks got hurt…QB whisperer my recternal obligation…
You’re just never going to give it up, are you? Can’t you just be happy that you appear to have found a quarterback who can throw the ball 50 yards under game conditions?
Speaking of never giving up, why don’t you n cojones tell me again how Trask was going to start but got hurt
He was, and then he did
He was, and then he did
Leghumper, who else should get the credit for Trask being a Heisman candidate? Since Mullen had Franks over Trask, that means Trask just developed himself on another field while Franks got all the reps? Is that what you and every other Dawg fan that keeps bringing this up thinks? Being called a QB whisperer doesn’t mean all you know how to do is spot talent and start them over everyone else. It means you can take an unknown, low ranked prospect and develop him into a star. Seems Mullen is doing exactly that once again. Guess who will be the first non-family member Trask thanks for getting him there if he does in fact win the Heisman?
How many guesses do I get, G8rJoe?
My first would be “Trask’s a pure passer,” Brian Thiebaud, a quarterbacks coach who has worked with Trask since 2014…bet you didn’t know that did you?
My non-family member second guess would probably be Kirk Martin, you do know who he is, don’t you.
My third choice would be a toss up between Dan or Meagan, the players say she kisses better than Dan and who wouldn’t want a big ol girl kiss after winning the Heisman, right?
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Joe, be safe out there.
And I quote from mee palley CO…Wrong again, Trask was set to get the start after the Mizzou game but broke his foot next practice and was out for the year…Nash has confirmed on occasion that Trask was scheduled to start, numerour other Lizard licker as well…total horsehockey UF fan illusions…The REALcojones STORY…
Last season, Trask got his first game action. After attempting only four passes in September, he turned in a promising relief performance of Franks in a November loss to Missouri. Momentarily, it appeared the door cracked open for Trask: A CHANCE TO CHALLENGE for the start the next week vs. South Carolina…
That week in practice, Trask suffered a broken foot. Season over. Opportunity gone.
“He just had some misfortune and that’s what makes this story even cooler,” Thiebaud said. “He’s had to stay patient and work through some really frustrating situations, some things that are outside of his control.”
Trask was undeterred. He rehabbed and remained focused on his future.
“I just trusted my gut in this whole process.”
After season’s end, coach Dan Mullen met with Trask as part of his annual end-of-year player meetings. As with all such meetings, coach and player spoke about grades, Trask’s 2018 performance, areas for improvement and more.
The most important question Mullen had, with graduation on the horizon for Trask and Franks having a strong end to the season, was, “Where’s your head at?”
“You know you’re going to get reps and get a chance to compete,” Mullen said. “If it DOESN’T WORK OUT, is this where you want to be?”
Did I reiterate…Momentarily, it appeared the door cracked open for Trask: a CHANCE to challenge for the start. Trask was never SCHEDULED to start when he broke his foot…Mullet lost an opportunity to get numerous years out of Trask, but he was to busy whispering to his Top 50 4 star, so much whispering in fact that he had to meet with Trask and let him know it may not work out…riveting yes?
But don’t take ol humpers word, go to the story itself…if you aren’t so googley challenged to find the 2019 ESPN story…
espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/27646742/why-florida-new-qb-started-was-high-school-freshman
Humper, I’m not bothered by how Coach Dan Mullen handled the development of Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. Feleipe showed a lot of growth and promise with some disappointing mental/decision-making regressions. I also am not bothered how Kyle Trask developed for the day he was put in as the starter.
However, it’s funny for any UGA fan to try to slam other coaches for QB development. We know Kirby has a lot to learn in that regard.
Kirby’s conversation with his QB room 2020: Hey can you stand upright and hand a football to a RB and sometimes throw more than 3 completions? 5th string QBs answer: Yes. Kirby’s reply: Ok, your the starter until we can find someone else. Now thats some great coaching
What did Kirby see in Mathis other than an ability to hand the ball to a running back?
I really don’t know. Maybe he’s a softie for kids trying to recover from brain tumors and giving their all in practice. Maybe he felt obligated to give Dwan a shot. I agree with your comment, I saw nothing in Dwan that screamed greatness. When Kirby learns to put winning over everything else he’ll accomplish great coaching stats and records, but will he accomplish being a great person? Who knows. I do know we don’t pay him 7m a year to be a great person…
Franks could never handle the pressure of being a Florida qb. He’s so much better off at a place like Arkansas.
Talk about being bitter. I think Shakespeare has written shorter monologues. And go talk about Mullens QB choice of Trask vs Franks… At least both have played well. Watch out for that plank Thumper
I rivalry jest with many of you guys here and you all have my respect as decent posters on this thread but in this case you guys are missing the point.
I’ve seen so many recent articles about the Heisman race and the one constant on most of them are delusional comments from G8rNation fans about the great development and great transition to elite QB that sir Mullet has done with Kyle, going as far as stating that had Trask not injured his foot Mullet had recognized the greatness of Trask and was about to start him against CootU, this is a lie plain and simple so just stop! Mullet almost pulled a Kirby with Trask and if not for a freak injury to his starter and a horrible lack of depth behind Franks, Trask would have been a huge a Mullet swing and a miss, so quit pretending otherwise. I heard way to often from Kirby that JT was progressing and competing, total bs as well. It took Stetson to get injured. Mullet lucked out in the same way with events leading to Trask getting his opportunity. If you guys bothered to read the article I quoted it’s self explanatory. Trask was described by his HS coach and others as deadly accurate with a huge arm but there he sat watching dog n pony Franks goatroap absolutely nothing. So just stop with the QB whisperer handler. Everything the Trask has accomplished has been in spite of whispers…Dan could have had 3 years of Tebow all over again but as a Leghumper fan I’m so glad he scrood the pooch with Kyle. It’s time y’all give credit to where it’s due…Kyle Trask, period.
This has been brought up and discussed 90,000 times already. It was never Trask’s skill or ability. It was his personality. Mullen was looking for a LEADER to help build up a team, which was broken. And we didn’t exactly have any Jarrad Davis types on the roster at that time. But Frank’s was the Alpha dog in the locker room and on the field. The team looked up to him. Trask on the other hand was reserved and as quiet as a church mouse. It’s just not/wasn’t in his personality. I don’t fault Mullen for that.
Mullen didn’t start Trask because he’s a terrible QB coach. Kirby didn’t start Mathis cause he had a tumor and Kirby has a soft heart. Lmao you can’t make this stuff up. More salt than the Dead Sea from the Dawgs lately
Never said he was a terrible coach, I said he made the same stupid mistake Kirby made, only he got away wwith it because a Trask wouldn’t leave for greener pastures…I am saying that if a Trask does win the Heisman it’s because of Trask, pick the twist you prefer G8rGrad, just don’t try to tell me ever again that Trask was going to start but was derailed by an injury, it’s simply not true…I’ve heard that tune to long
Who would ever say a heisman winner won the award because of someone other than themselves? Lol of course Trask will get the credit. Just a couple weeks ago you were giving Pitts the credit though, don’t forget. It is interesting to note that Mullen has coached a couple QBs that were heisman candidates though eh? Must just be coincidence. And it is widely known that Trask was going to start after the Mizz game that year before he broke his foot. Unless you’re getting at the fact that Felipe won the job in the beginning of 2019? I’m confused by your blind hated of Mullen and I’m getting pretty confused. Hey how’s Kirby doing developing any heisman candidates over there with all them 5 stars? You think I can play for UGA if I recover from a tumor? I still got some plays left in me I tell ya
Oh and for what it’s worth, I would have started Fromm over Fields based on what I, as an outsider, saw. I didn’t think it was a big mistake by Kirby at all. However, it was a mistake to lose Fields. Dunno what exactly was promised and not given or what the locker room was like. You simply don’t let players like that leave.
Humper, Trask has been in Mullen’s system and coached by him for almost three years (since January 2018). He made a huge jump this offseason in pocket movement and mental processing. I don’t know where you get this idea that Gator fans aren’t giving Trask credit for his success. That’s absurd.
But is Mullen’s coaching a big part of his success? Absolutely. I’ve written this more than once in SDS comments, but in his spring game appearances, Trask always had flawless mechanics and threw a beautiful ball. But he was very tentative, invariably holding onto the ball for too long.
Now, about the “lies.” Trask came in during the 2018 Missouri game after Feleipe got benched and went went 10 of 18 for 126 yards, a TD and zero INTs. Mullen’s quote during the following week’s press conference, when asked which quarterback would be starting, was, “I’m not going to share what our strategy is.”
Gee, there’s a shocker: The head coach wasn’t willing to announce to the opponent who would be starting. Can’t imagine that’s unusual to a Georgia fan.
Trask was expected by insiders and program observers to start against South Carolina and he was taking snaps with the 1s when he fractured his foot. So… was there a billboard on I-75 saying, “Trask is starting this week?” No, there wasn’t. But was he expected to start? Yes, he was.
And by the way, you’re citing an ESPN story written over 10 months after Trask broke his foot, by an ESPN staffer who normally covers Texas A&M. So forgive me if I don’t accord a lot of weight to the writer’s line, “Momentarily, it appeared the door cracked open for Trask.” And, you are conflating the week he broke his foot with his end of season meeting with Mullen just under two months later (when he was probably still wearing a boot). This meeting, not incidentally, followed a final four game stretch during which the 6’6″ 230 lb. other Florida quarterback with freakish arm talent went 63 of 97 (65%) with eight TDs and zero interceptions.
Leghumper, I honestly don’t understand why you have such a burning desire to minimize Mullen. I know Florida’s success under Mullen must drive you nuts. I can’t imagine what you’re going to be like when Florida wins its next national championship, maybe not this year with our issues at safety, but it now seems very possible within the next three years.
Oh, and as for you noting (below) that Franks left, he was a graduating senior who wanted more certainty for his final year in college, not a guy waiting his turn.
Thanks for confirming…Mullet never said Trask was starting, as opposed to numerous G8r fans who unequivocally have stated, and I quote…Trask was set to get the start after the Mizzou game but broke his foot next practice and was out for the year…
You guys want to sell that manure on your articles, have at it, I’m sure you’ll get all the agreement you need. But when you guys try to sell that on all the other threads expect to back up your claims.
As for Franks leaving, I wasn’t the one that made the statement…Funny how nobody leaves after finding out they weren’t starting, must be a reason why. Can anyone explain this phenomenon? Why yes, yes I can…
Humper, it’s true that Gator fans — me included — have said that Trask was going to start after the 2018 Missouri game. Was it formally announced? No. But was Trask taking snaps with the 1s in practice when he got hurt? Yes. And did Mullen say Trask would not start? No.
You know what it’s a lot like? J.T. Daniels before the Mississippi State game. Did Kirby announce that he would be starting in the two weeks before the game? No. But did everybody who watches Georgia football believe he would start? Yes. And did Georgia sports media like Dawgs 247 report that he was taking snaps with the 1s? Yes.
Trask was 95% probable to start the 2018 South Carolina game. And you’re just playing gotcha word games.
As for Franks leaving, no one has ever reported that Franks was told he would not be starting. He just knew that it could go either way and there was at least a 50-50 chance he would lose the starting job. He may even have assessed that his odds were even worse, since he knew as much as anyone about Trask’s improvement.
Trask was 95% probable…lol
All this arguing and presenting of the evidence and all I get is a measly 5% deduction from the “was definitely going to start if not injured” statements…white flag time
As definite as anything can be. he was definitely going to start.
I think the biggest factor against Trask is his “Aw Shucks” playing style. He doesn’t have those electric looking plays so much like some others, but often just kind of lobs the ball to the hole in the zone like– whatever, man. The analysts and football guys get it, as for example, the guy doing the Vanderbilt broadcast who kept raving over his touch, whereas so many guys hurl the ball hard no matter what.
Coach Spurrier also noticed he throws a catchable ball. All of these are good but not always sexy. I think the voters are sometimes drawn with razzle dazzle.
I also think UGA posters look for any opportunity to degrade Mullen’s coaching, even though on almost any ranking list he’s in the top 5 coach in college (depending on who’s list). He’s usually top 1-2 on coaching offense and calling plays. It sure is amazing that Trask, Jones, Richardson and Carlos Del Rio commit are willing to wait in line to get their chance to run this ofense. Funny how nobody leaves after finding out they weren’t starting, must be a reason why. Can anyone explain this phenomenon
I love all the Mullen hate from the UGA fans. It is a symptom of FEAR. It’s a bad sign when rival fans like your coach and hope he stays around for years. BTW, did I mention I love what Jeremy Pruitt is doing at UT and hope he is there for decades?
Uhh whip…Franks left
Yeah totally missed the point here. Whip is correct, none of the guys waiting their turn have left so far.
All the novels you have written on this thread have too many mistakes to keep track of but let me correct one that caught my attention. There was no “horrible depth “ behind Franks last year when he got injured. We had Trask & Emory Jones ready to go.
In another testament to Mullen’s genius he chose Trask as Franks replacement. He could have easily gone with Jones instead. But Mullen knows QBs and he made the right choice
Yes, that Emory is a baller, all 10 passes…
Tell me again how Mullet has allowed Emory to throw the ball much more than Kirby allowed Fields…2018 Fields 39 passes / 2019 Emory 38 passes / 2020 so far ^see above
Humpy, since you like to live on this page you might as well change your icon to at least a “UGAtor”. I’m not sure what type animal pic that would look like, maybe a pic of a dogs rear-end with a gator head attached to it. Just don’t try to lick your butt, those teeth can be hurtful.
He just hates Mullen, so much so that when he should be celebrating UGA finding a quarterback, he’s obsessing about Mullen.
Funny aside: I’ve been trying to remember what the Georgia sports media and fan reaction to J.T. Daniels’ MSU performance reminds me of… I realized this morning that it’s Jacob Eason’s true freshman spring game.
Beside heisman trophy Trask should be awarded role model trophy for teaching the whole world the value of presistant, hard work, loyalty , patience and perseviarance.
At the time of transfer poretol and me me me first he waited his turn.bravo.
Well said isfahan, and hope all of you I-75 truckstop fans have a great Thanksgiving. To all the other fans of SEC football, hope you have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving too. We all have much to be thankful for.
Amen to that
Now this I can whole heartedly endorse, well said 69Isfahan, well said!
As for the rest of my ramblings, be they truth or truth, I must admit…RIVALRY WEEK ain’t the same. I’m sure my G8rB8r contingent will agree, beating the hail out CrabmuncherU is much more satisfying then the beat down y’all will give YachtCapnU…I feel the same way, as much as CootU payback will be nice if we don’t fumbledork all over our paws again, it won’t be the same as swatting those pesky Bumblewasps of UgaTech…
To all my G8r compadres here on this G8r thread…a very merry Thanksgiving to you and your families…safe travels.
Travels? Don’t ya know you are supposed to stay home and eat in a different room than your wife while keeping one kid in the back yard and the other in the front? Come on man this is scientific
That’s what I meant, safe travels as you journey from the front of your trailer to the back yard to check on your little boy. THe little cojones rug Rat is probably chewing on the pit bulls ear again, keep an eye on him palley
Trailer? No trailers in my hood bro, but nice try, and I’m too old to have little ones, but that’s more info that I should divulge on this site. Also no pit bull. I’ve said before I’m more partial to cats, more intelligent and independent
I could have guessed that.