UF Position Preview: Quarterback

As fall practice opens up Friday afternoon, the Florida Gators quarterback competition looks like it’ll go down to the first snap. Let’s take a look at the three candidates:

Feleipe Franks

Feleipe Franks is the presumed favorite for the starting spot. After a spring where Kyle Trask made himself the favorite, Franks appears to have taken back control of the spot. He talked in media day about how all of the options are talented, so it should come down to who can lead a team best.

Franks was clearly the more vocal between him and Track to the media yesterday. In addition to the vocal aspect, he possesses a cannon for an arm. But the biggest knock on him is that he tends to stare down receivers and not read through his progressions – something he improved in the spring, but didn’t perfect to a very satisfying degree.

Kyle Trask

After the Orange and Blue Game in the spring, Kyle Trask was thought to have a hold on the starting gig, but has since faded a bit. Betting odds have him at a long shot to win the job, even further behind counterpart Emory Jones.

Out of high school, Trask was a relatively unknown QB. He was ranked as either a two-star or a three-star, depending on which site you look at.

He’s listed six-foot-five, 239 pounds, and he is a behemoth. Trask makes better decisions than Franks does, but doesn’t quite have the chemistry or leadership of the team.

He talked at media day about what he’s been working on over summer.

Emory Jones

Emory Jones is an interesting case for a starting spot. Spoiler alert – don’t expect him to start at quarterback.

Instead, fully expect him to receive some plays the way Tim Tebow did as a backup to Chris Leak in 2006. Run-pass options, designed running plays and short-yardage situations should be where you see Jones come in.

His ability and value comes from his legs.

Jones actually is a higher betting favorite than Trask, but he’s clearly the third option on this team.

He might start one or two years down the road, but he won’t be the guy they trot out the first play against Charleston Southern on Sep. 1.

Maybe even expect head coach Dan Mullen to utilize the new four-game redshirt rule on Jones.

Mullen doesn’t quite know when that decision is coming either.