Florida football: Feleipe Franks elects to leave Gators
Following a 40-17 win over Florida State, Florida football quarterback Feleipe Franks announced he was leaving the Gators for other opportunities.
Well, the question over who will quarterback the Florida football team next season just got a clearer answer.
On Sunday, Feleipe Franks announced he would either enter the 2020 NFL Draft or look at a graduate transfer option to play elsewhere next season.
Franks, who was sidelined for the season following an ankle injury against Kentucky earlier in the season, was replaced by backup Kyle Trask. Trask went 7-2 as a starter and threw 24 touchdowns — including three against Florida State in a 40-17 win Saturday.
He took to Instagram to announce his decision:
“My heart will always be a part of the Gator family. Coach [Dan] Mullen and Coach Johnson have meant so much to me, and I want to thank both of them for putting their trust in me,” Franks said. “I also want to thank Mr. Jeremy Foley and Mr. Scott Stricklin as well, as everybody inside the football facility has always had my back no matter what.
My heart is heavy … there will be a lot that is missed.”
After being benched in a blowout loss to Missouri last season, Franks seemed to get back on track and led Florida football to four straight wins, including a 41-15 blowout of Michigan in the Peach Bowl.
His prospects for the NFL Draft are likely pretty slim considering he has been out a majority of the season with the injury.
If he goes the route of a graduate transfer, he would be immediately eligible to play at another FBS school.
In his four seasons with the Gators, Franks went 367-for-622 with 4,593 yards and 38 touchdowns — 24 of those coming last season. He has a quarterback rating of 135.7 over those four years.
Now that leaves Trask and freshman Emory Jones as returning quarterbacks for Florida football. Mullen has utilized both in games during the season. Trask has gone 213-for-315 with 24 touchdowns, six interceptions and 2,636 yards passing. Jones has thrown for three touchdowns on 25-for-38 passing and 267 yards.
Next. Gators run wild on Florida State Saturday. dark
Jones has added 224 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.