Florida football: 5 reasons Gators will be better than Florida State in 2018

GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 15: Tyrie Cleveland #89 of the Florida Gators reacts to a touchdown during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 15: Tyrie Cleveland #89 of the Florida Gators reacts to a touchdown during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Feleipe Franks #13 of the Florida Gators gestures during the first half of the game against the UAB Blazers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Feleipe Franks #13 of the Florida Gators gestures during the first half of the game against the UAB Blazers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /

2. Quarterback play

Even though the Seminoles have a quarterback on the 2018 Maxwell Award Watch List — and the Gators have yet to name their day one starter — Florida will have the better signal-caller in 2018.

Junior FSU quarterback Deondre Francois suffered a devastating injury a season ago that required surgery on his left knee. He’s on the Maxwell Award Watch List for the second-straight season, but he wasn’t cleared for spring practice following a September 2017 operation. This opened the door for his replacement, James Blackman, who played surprisingly well for a true freshman.

Mullen hasn’t named a starter for Florida, but Feleipe Franks has all the tools to not only win the job, but take the Gators to new heights. He was part of that 2016 recruiting class that ranked 12th in the nation, and is a perennial dual-threat quarterback. He threw for nearly 1,500 yards last season, and in the spring game displayed his running abilities, tallying 63 yards and two touchdowns; he completed eight of his 12 attempts for 117 yards and another score.

The other quarterback in competition with Franks, sophomore Kyle Trask, plays a different style than Franks but is effective in his own way. More of a pocket passer, Trask completed half of his 24 attempts for 178 yards and a touchdown. The main takeaway from the spring game was neither quaarterback turned the ball over, something they struggled with a season ago.