Former Arkansas quarterback Feleipe Franks may start in NFL preseason

Former Arkansas and Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks may start the Atlanta Falcons second preseason game, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Franks spent this past college season with the Razorbacks after three years on the Gators. He signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent.

The rookie played the entire second half in Atlanta’s first preseason game against Tennessee. He finished as the team’s leading rusher (76 yards on four carries), while going 2-of-9 for 16 yards passing.

Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron started that game, going 5-of-12 for 36 yards and throwing an interception. Falcons coach Arthur Smith said he could opt to start Feleipe Franks over the six-year veteran when Atlanta faces Miami on Saturday.

“They are on different levels,” Smith said of Franks and McCarron. “We’ll assess it at the end of the week and then we’ll see who’ll take the first half and who will take the second half assuming that we don’t play Matt (Ryan). Right now, the plan is to play both of those guys again Saturday.”

Feleipe Franks transferred to Arkansas last year after missing most of 2019 with an ankle injury. He was part of a season in which the Razorbacks snapped a 20-game SEC losing streak, the longest in program history. Franks tossed 17 touchdowns to just four interceptions as a Hog.

He also started a couple of seasons at Florida, finding the most success as a sophomore. He finished with 2,457 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions that year.

Although Feleipe Franks certainly could have thrown the ball more efficiently in his first preseason appearance, he displayed an ability to evade pressure that caught Smith’s eye.

“He made some plays,” the coach said. “He proved that he can escape. He’s got some natural ability and now there are some things that we need him to clean up operationally, pass protection wise.”

It sounds very likely the Falcons could give Feleipe Franks a shot Saturday. He is currently listed at No. 3 on the depth chart behind McCarron.

Could a good performance propel him to No. 2? Fans in Fayetteville and Gainesville alike will want to tune in.