Feleipe Franks explains his growth in Dan Mullen’s offense entering Year 2 in the system
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This time last season, many Florida fans were eager to move on from Feleipe Franks and turn the keys of the offense over to true freshman Emory Jones. Now that concept is completely out of the question heading into the 2019 season in Gainesville.
Dan Mullen continues to prove he’s the best quarterback whisperer in the Southeastern Conference as he immediately turned Franks into a 58 percent passer that threw for 2,457 yards, 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions last fall. Franks did not have a single game with multiple interceptions last season and his final pick in 2018 came against Georgia back on Oct. 27 — meaning he went five games without a pick to close his debut season in Mullen’s offense.
Now entering Year 2 in Mullen’s system, Franks was recently asked how he and his fellow Gator quarterbacks are progressing in the offense.
“It’s the second year in the system for all of us, we just continually get better,” Franks said following Florida’s first spring scrimmage in a YouTube posted by Jacquie Franciulli. “I think it just comes with time and I think (2019 signee and early enrollee) Jalen (Jones) is coming along as well, it just comes with time.”
Mullen has indicated that his playbook would be expanding next season and considering Franks and his teammates have a better overall grasp of the offense, the Gators starting quarterback was asked how much he expects the playbook to grow based on spring camp. While he wasn’t willing to admit much in terms of the playbook expanding, he was willing to note he expects better utilization of the offense next season.
“I think as you learn the offense you are able to utilize it more to your advantage,” Franks said.
The key for Franks is the ability to understand how to attack defense better after having played in the system all of last season.
“I know for sure you can utilize it better to your advantage when you have a year of it under your belt,” he continued. “You can learn how to throw a bubble here or there more, or use it more to your advantage — every type of look, you have an answer.”
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
