Florida Football: 5 keys for a successful 2019 season

3. Grow current and future quarterbacks

Speaking of yearly talking points, it’s about time Florida put an end to quarterback questions. 2018 reversed much of the negativity surrounding the position, but certainly didn’t completely quiet detractors.

Dan Mullen was brought to Gainesville for one specific purpose: Fix the decade-long quarterback problem plaguing this program.

Fans are reticently hopeful that 2019 marks the turnaround and sparks a new golden era of quarterbacks to wear the orange and blue. The end of last season gave hope, but this season will reveal if the results were more than just fool’s gold.

Brimming with confidence, Feleipe Franks appears positioned to finally reach his sky-high potential and shut his loud doubters up. Spring has been all positive and many have pointed to the fact that quarterbacks under Dan Mullen generally greatly improve in year-two. If he harnesses his copious talents and feeds it through Mullen’s quarterback-friendly system, Franks will become the savior Gainesville has prayed for since Tim Tebow did the same in the Swamp.

At the same time, Mullen must be diligent in developing his next quarterback – most likely to be Emory Jones. Many have posited that Jones is better suited to thrive in Mullen’s system which rewards dual-threat quarterbacks. Jones is mobile, but remains unpolished as a passer.

Mullen has proven in the past that he’s capable of taking quarterbacks with unique skill sets and equipping them for success. The team’s success rides on his developing skills this year, but also for the future of the program.