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SEC Football: Assessing the top QBs from the 2016 recruiting class

By Erich Hilkert

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) attempts a pass during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Georgia won 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) attempts a pass during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Georgia won 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 7, 2017; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Feleipe Franks (13) warms up prior to the orange and blue debut at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Feleipe Franks (13) warms up prior to the orange and blue debut at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

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Two quarterbacks who were highly touted, although not at the same level as Eason and Patterson, didn’t play a single snap in 2016. Four-star recruits Feleipe Franks of Florida and Jarrett Guarantano of Tennessee redshirted their freshman seasons.

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Franks was extremely raw coming out of high school and most figured it would be at least a season before he competed for a starting position. Following the surprise transfer of former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire, it remains to be seen whether Franks will get a shot to start in 2017. Zaire only has three starts under his belt, but that is more than Franks.

Furthermore, Zaire had plenty of suitors, so Florida must have conveyed a legitimate chance to compete for a starting role. Prior to Zaire’s transfer, the starting job appeared to be in Franks’ favor with senior Luke Del Rio holding a reasonable though unlikely chance. Even if Zaire wins the starting job, Florida fans can expect Franks to receive reps as a backup and possibly push Zaire to earn the starting role.

Meanwhile, Guarantano is in a similar position at Tennessee. Guarantano redshirted last season with senior Joshua Dobbs the team’s clear starter and Quinten Dormady the clear backup. Because of his experience, Dormady is the early frontrunner for the starting job this season, although the Tennessee staff gave Guarantano plenty of reps in practice and word is he is pushing Dormady for the starting job. He will likely begin the season as Tennessee’s backup, but he should earn game reps and make the Tennessee staff reconsider his standing if Dormady should falter.

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