10:03 pm | August 21, 2018 | Go to Source | Author: Robbie Andreu
Unlike most in Gator Nation who are desperate for the impending news concerning who Florida’s starting quarterback is going to be, the two main combatants for the job seem almost indifferent about it.
Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask don’t seem nervous, don’t seem anxious, don’t seem worried about the outcome — or when that outcome is going be announced by coach Dan Mullen.
If you listen to them, they are just two quarterbacks still going about their business on the practice field and in the film room and not worrying about anything else.
“I don’t know who he’s going to name,” Franks said Tuesday. “It’s not that big of a deal right now. For the players, especially the quarterbacks, it’s just going out there every day and competing and having fun.
“I’m not really worried about it. I’m more worried about coming more together as a team, building bonds and getting our offense going.
“I could care less. I just want to win. It means more to me. I’m not worried about starting.”
Trask pretty much echoed his competition Tuesday. He’s not focused on winning the job, he’s focused on getting better prepared to do the job if he happens to be the guy.
“That’s an upstairs decision,” Trask said. “I’m going to try to do what I can do to the best of my ability. My focus is just on grinding day in and day out and just getting better every day. No (anxiety).
“We’re human, so it’s in the back of our minds, but we’re all best friends and we’re just grinding together every day.”
Trask, Franks and true freshman Emory Jones have been competing against each other for the starting role since last spring.
Although Jones is technically still in the running, all indications are it likely will come down to either Franks or Trask lining up behind center in the Sept. 1 opener against Charleston Southern.
Now that they’re close to the finish line, Franks and Trask seem to be taking the low key/indifferent approach. Especially Franks.
When Franks was asked if he’s confident he’ll be the guy, he said, “I haven’t even thought about it. I’m not worried about it. I have not thought about it.
“When your name is called, just produce. You can’t be thinking about a million other things. I’m not worried about who’s starting. I don’t really care. I just worry about winning games and being productive.”
According to Mullen, all three quarterbacks have made progress over the course of preseason camp. All struggled with consistency in the first scrimmage, then they all rebounded and earned a champion’s grade in the second scrimmage Sunday night.
Franks and Trask both said they feel more comfortable in the offense and have improved under the tutelage of Mullen and quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson.
“I’ve learned to be a game manager and just be a well-rounded quarterback,” Franks said. “It’s not making big plays, but making the normal plays and just being well-rounded, good game manager, good leader.
“I’m improving. There’s still room to always grow, but I’m definitely taking steps every day. I’m getting more and more comfortable in the offense.”
Mullen and Johnson are bringing that comfort level for all the quarterbacks through coaching and with the pace they’ve brought them along in the offense, Trask said.
“Coach Mullen and his staff have given us the right amount of plays and install at a time we can actually focus on a certain number of plays at a time, where we can actually grasp the information of the play, the ins and outs of everything,” Trask said. “Mullen and his staff have done a great job feeding us the information with the right chunks at a time.
“They try to keep the verbiage down so it’s easier to remember. The credit goes upstairs. The coaches have done a great job teaching us the plays and showing us all the looks and what can happen no matter what defense shows up.”
Mullen said Monday that he and Johnson will sit down at some point this week, go over the situation at quarterback and then, at some point, decide who the starter is going to be.
Mullen has offered no timetable to the media. Or the quarterbacks.
“I don’t know what he’s told the media, but, I don’t know any particular date or anything like that,” Trask said. “I’m just trying to get better every day and focus on myself.”
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