Greg McElroy on Florida Gator Feleipe Franks: ‘Sky’s the limit’

HOOVER, Ala. — When SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy heard Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks signed a pro contract with the Red Sox, he thought it was a nice Plan B.

“I don’t think he’s going to need it,” McElroy said.

That’s because the former Alabama quarterback remains high on the Gators’ redshirt junior starter.

“I feel good about him,” McElroy said Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-Wynfrey Hotel. “I think he played really well down the stretch, got more and more comfortable. With Feleipe, he’s got all the gifts in the world as far as throwing the football, athletic enough to get around, big body, good stature in the pocket. All those things, and Dan (Mullen) is a great quarterback coach. I’d be highly surprised if he didn’t grow this year.”

To so, Franks will have to eliminate the inconsistencies that have plagued him during his two up-and-down seasons in Gainesville. He has made some incredible throws, like the 63-yard bomb to beat Tennessee. But he has also made some questionable ones by trying to force throws instead of checking down.

“When that gap tightens a little bit, when your floor gets a little bit closer to your ceiling, that’s when true development starts to show itself,” McElroy said.

So what is Franks’ ceiling?

“Sky’s the limit,” McElroy said.

“He’s got a lot of gifts — gifts guys would do anything for. It’s just about learning you don’t have to take advantage of those gifts all the time…

“If he plays to what he’s capable of playing within that offense? Man, there’s no telling what the season may look like and what beyond might look like.”