By: Robert Craft

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

One college football coach who can mold quarterbacks is Dan Mullen.

At Utah, he created a first overall pick as the quarterback coach. During his time at Florida as the offensive coordinator, he developed two National Championship leaders & one of the two won a Heisman Trophy.

As head coach at Mississippi State, he coached a future NFL Rookie of the Year and a Heisman contender. Mullen has coached big names like Alex Smith, Chris Leak, Tim Tebow, and Dak Prescott. Is Feleipe Franks the next big name?

In 2017 Feleipe Franks was absolutely horrible. In 2018 quarterback whisperer coach Dan Mullen started working his magic with Franks.

Franks played in all 13 games in 2018, he completed 58% of his passes for 2457 yards, 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He also rushed for 350 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Franks was less effective in every area when the Florida Gators lost in 2018, and he struggled throwing the ball downfield. Franks completed 24% of his passes 10-19 yards and 15.4% of his passes 20 plus yards.

That’s the bad, here’s the good. In Franks last three games against FBS opponents (South Carolina, Florida State, & Michigan), Franks completed 62% of his throws for 5 touchdowns and ZERO interceptions. He also rushed for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns.

With the Gators first game less than 14 days away, Florida fans want to know which Feleipe Franks is going to show up this season.

The schedule sets up such that Franks will get some early tests in the first month, with Miami, Kentucky and Tennessee. Florida fans will know which Franks showed up by the end of September.

Franks was a media darling in Hoover, Alabama at the SEC media day. He showed a combination of maturation, realization, and standardization. Franks is finally seeing his performance reach the level of his work ethic.

Running back Lamical Perine said,” He’s probably one of the hardest workers on the team.  When we have stadium runs, he’s the first one to finish. He’s strong in the weight room. He does a lot of talking. That’s good. That’s usual for a competitive player like him.” If you have ever been in a locker room, you know the importance of your teammates believing in you.

The questions on most Gator fans minds is: can Franks improve those last three games and can he maintain that level of performance in 2019? I think YES!

Dan Mullen’s play calling and Florida’s ability to run the football are two reasons Franks will keep improving. Add to that mix the wide receiver position, there is a lot of talent on the roster, arguably the best in about a decade.

In less than a year Dan Mullen has turned Florida Football’s offense into a productive group. Mullen certainly opened up the playbook’s variation last year. No one can call Mullen’s play calling predictable.

Flashback to November 10, 2018, Franks hushes Gators Fans during comeback win. This was the day that Franks sent a message to a home crowd that booed him earlier. Trailing 31-14 late in the 3rd quarter, Franks became a willing runner, diving across the goal line on fourth down inside the one-yard line to put the Gators ahead for good.

I think this example best describes Felipe Franks as a Florida Gator, a quarterback strong enough to mend a rough start into a smooth finish, and with Mullen’s help, Franks is on his way to being another star QB Mullen can add to his resumé.