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SEC Football: Realistic 2019 season goals for every team

By Dakota Cox

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate with the trophy after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 35-28 in the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate with the trophy after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 35-28 in the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 29: Feleipe Franks #13 of the Florida Gators looks to pass against the Michigan Wolverines in the first quarter during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 29: Feleipe Franks #13 of the Florida Gators looks to pass against the Michigan Wolverines in the first quarter during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

Florida Gators: Continue to grow Feleipe Franks

Florida took a lot of steps in the right direction late into last season as a football team, and the majority of those steps came due to the development of Feleipe Franks. Head Coach Dan Mullen is known for his ability to develop quarterbacks with players like Dak Prescott, Nick Fitzgerald, and Tim Tebow on his resume. He’s only had one season with Franks, but his growth showed over the course of the season.

For reference, Franks threw for 1,438 passing yards, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt with nine touchdowns and eight picks two years ago. This past season with Mullen, he threw for 2,457 yards, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt, with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He played in a couple of more games last year than the one before, but this is still an amazing jump.

Those stats tell a story, but they fail to show the growth Franks showed in the season. In his last four games, he threw for eight touchdowns and no interceptions. That type of development will be crucial looking forward for the Gators.

Another thing Franks needs to be able to do is show consistency at a high level. The growth is great, but Franks only threw for more than 250 yards three times last season. He also threw for less than 200 yards seven times, including one game where he threw for 85 yards on 22 pass attempts in a loss to Missouri. You simply can’t have those types of numbers as a starting quarterback for a top team in the SEC.

Franks is also a quality runner, but that won’t get him through their daunting schedule.

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