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A not-so-welcoming homecoming, the Florida Gators gear up to take on a familiar foe on Saturday when Feleipe franks and the Arkansas Razorbacks enter Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
“He’s my brother,” shared the UF running back Malik davis Monday. “When he left it was really tough, but he was just making the right decision for himself.”
“It will certainly be different”, center Brett heggie presaged to face his former roommate. “He’s going to get ready and get ready to play. But so are we, so that should be fun.”
Of course, while it seems more distant in the age of COVID-19, Franks was quarterback for Florida just ten months ago. He was transferred to SEC West in January a few months following a dislocated ankle suffered against the Kentucky Wildcats. Heisman candidate from Florida Kyle trask immediately won the starting role of Franks and never looked back, which graciously led Franks to the NCAA transfer portal.
Now Franks is leading an Arkansas team that took the SEC and the country by surprise, owning a record of .500, 3-3 in head coach Sam Pittman’s first year of work – in Arkansas, or anywhere for an FBS program. Such a record is a major surprise from a full SEC schedule, as Arkansas had not won a conference game since 2017 before this year.
Much credit can be given to Franks who undoubtedly elevated the Razorbacks’ offense, completing 67.2% of his passes for 1,428 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, adding 238 rushing yards on 35 attempts (per Pro Football Focus, which does not subtract the footage from the QB expedited production bag).
“Yeah he’s having a great year. Really proud of him,” said Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, who coached Franks for two seasons before his transfer. “Feleipe is like family to me. I love him to death so excited for him.”
What the Florida coaching staff wants you to understand, however, is that Franks’ success comes as little surprise to them, despite his uneven career with the Gators. Head Coach Dan Mullen said:
“I think Feleipe is a great quarterback. We’ve had him for quite a long time, so I see what you see out of him. A guy with a high touchdown / interception ratio, a really strong arm, you know. I mean, he’s a veteran player now, he’s played in the league so games and times aren’t too much for him. I know he’s playing some kind of new offense to learn, but when you’re an older, veteran guy, I think you understand the concepts, you understand the covers, you understand what’s going on out there on the pitch. He took it real quick, and I think he passes a great year. But I expected nothing less from him and, you know, the Feleipe that I know. “
Frank’s UF career has seen such memorable moments as the “Heave to Cleve” in 2017, the 79-yard run against Texas A&M that same year, silencing the public with a solid performance after a bench, and appearing to finally put things in place under Mullen in his last seven games as Gator.
In that streak, Franks completed 69.6% of his throws for 1,560 yards, 13 touchdowns and three picks, also rushing for 285 yards and five scores (PFF). The injury was a runaway killer, but it’s safe to say that Franks’ development under Mullen and Co. took his career to the next level and prepared him well to lead Arkansas to new heights under Pittman.
Trask even credits Franks’ presence for helping make Trask a better quarterback, and vice versa.
“I think we had a very beneficial relationship while we were both playing here because we were great friends off the pitch,” Trask shared, but at the same time we were both competitors and we were each other. are faced every day, and I think we made each other better in the end.
It’s tough, but now Florida must see the Franks as the enemy – at least for the week and until Saturday. There is no bad will, and players and coaches are sure to chat with their old friend and teammate before and after the game.
However, Franks and the Razorbacks represent a tough job for a Florida team with SEC championship and college football playoff aspirations, and it can’t be forgotten in the fun. It is a confrontation between two respectable adversaries first, the reunion then.
“I know I was bloated [to add Arkansas to the schedule]. As competitors we are, even when he was here we are still competing with each other, ”Davis recalled. , you know, trash talkers and, he knows we’re boosting this week until the end of the game. “
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