Feleipe Franks
 Franks in 2021 | |||||||||
| No. 84 – Carolina Panthers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 22, 1997 Crawfordville, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 241 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Wakulla (Crawfordville, Florida) | ||||||||
| College: | |||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2021 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 5, 2024 | |||||||||
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Feleipe Franks (born December 22, 1997) is an American professional football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played his first three years of college football at Florida and transferred to Arkansas for his final season. Franks joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Early life
[edit]Franks attended Wakulla High School in Crawfordville, Florida. During his high school career he passed for 6,867 yards and 81 touchdowns.[1] Franks was regarded as a four-star recruit by the major recruiting services, and was rated as the fifth-highest ranked pro-style quarterback and 54th-highest ranked prospect overall in the 247Sports Composite.[2] He originally committed to Louisiana State University (LSU) to play college football on June 1, 2014, but switched his commitment to the University of Florida on November 29, 2015.[3][4]
College career
[edit]Florida
[edit]
Franks redshirted his first year at Florida in 2016. As a redshirt freshman in 2017, he was named the starting quarterback heading into Florida's season opener against Michigan, beating out 2016 starter Luke Del Rio and incoming Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire.[5][6] Franks struggled in the game against Michigan, and was benched in favor of Zaire in the second half after completing 5 of 9 passes for 75 yards. The Gators went on to lose 33–17. In the Gators' next game on September 16, 2017, against Tennessee, Franks started the game and threw for 212 yards, including the game-winning 63-yard Hail Mary pass to receiver Tyrie Cleveland. Florida won the game 26–20 for Franks' first career win.[7] After a 3–1 start, the Gators' season derailed, as they lost six of their final seven games to finish with a disappointing 4–7 record and the school's second losing season since 1979.[8] Franks led the team in passing with 1,438 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.[9]
As a redshirt sophomore in 2018, Franks was again named the starting quarterback ahead of the season's opening game, fighting off competition from fellow redshirt sophomore Kyle Trask and true freshman Emory Jones.[10] He threw for 219 yards and five touchdowns in Florida's 53–6 opening win over Charleston Southern. He set a career high with 284 passing yards to go along with two touchdowns and an interception in an October 13 win over Vanderbilt. Franks helped the Gators to a dramatic turnaround compared with the 2017 season, as they finished with a 10–3 record and a victory over Michigan in the Peach Bowl, ending the season at seventh in the final polls. Franks posted 2,457 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, and seven rushing touchdowns on the year. His 31 total touchdowns was tied for third in the Southeastern Conference.[11]
In Florida's 2019 opener, Franks completed 17 of 27 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a rushing touchdown in a 24–20 win over rival Miami.[12] In the Gators' third game of the season against Kentucky, Franks was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury late in the third quarter.[13] Florida head coach Dan Mullen said after the game that team doctors believed Franks suffered a broken ankle and would likely miss the remainder of the season.[14] On December 1, 2019, Franks announced he would be leaving the Florida program.[15]
Arkansas
[edit]On January 20, 2020, Franks announced he would be transferring to Arkansas.[16] On September 16, 2020, he was named one of four team captains for the season, and was shortly thereafter named the starting quarterback for the Razorbacks' season opener against Georgia.[17] On October 3, 2020, Franks led the Razorbacks in a 21–14 win against No. 16 Mississippi State, breaking Arkansas' 20-game SEC losing streak as well as their 15-game losing streak against ranked opponents.[18]
Baseball
[edit]On June 5, 2019, the Boston Red Sox of MLB drafted Franks with the 947th overall pick (in the 31st round) of the 2019 MLB draft, and signed with the Red Sox for a signing bonus of $40,000.[19] Franks, who played baseball in high school but not at Florida, indicated that he would continue his football career.[20] On April 19, 2023, Franks was officially released from his Red Sox contract.[21]
Statistics
[edit]| Season | Team | GP | Passing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | QB Rating | |||
| 2017 | Florida | 11 | 125 | 229 | 54.6 | 1,438 | 9 | 8 | 113.3 |
| 2018 | Florida | 13 | 188 | 322 | 58.4 | 2,457 | 24 | 6 | 143.4 |
| 2019 | Florida | 4 | 54 | 71 | 76.1 | 698 | 5 | 3 | 173.4 |
| 2020 | Arkansas | 8 | 155 | 228 | 68.0 | 2,017 | 17 | 4 | 163.4 |
| Totals[22][23] | 36 | 522 | 850 | 61.4 | 6,610 | 55 | 21 | 143.1 | |
Professional career
[edit]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 6+5⁄8 in (2.00 m) |
234 lb (106 kg) |
34 in (0.86 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
4.61 s | 1.70 s | 2.63 s | 4.22 s | 7.16 s | 32.5 in (0.83 m) |
9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) | ||
| All values from Pro Day[24][25] | ||||||||||||
Atlanta Falcons
[edit]On May 3, 2021, Franks signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent.[26] He was named the third-string quarterback behind incumbent starter Matt Ryan and second-string backup Josh Rosen.[27]
Franks made his NFL debut in Week 11 during the Falcons' final drive against the New England Patriots. His first pass was intercepted by safety Adrian Phillips, concluding the 25–0 shutout loss. The turnover marked the fourth consecutive Falcons drive to end with an interception, following two thrown by Ryan and one returned for a touchdown from Rosen.[28]
In June 2022, Franks began taking reps at the tight end position, with the Falcons announcing they were planning to use him in a hybrid role.[29]
On August 3, 2023, Franks was waived/injured by the Atlanta Falcons and placed on injured reserve.[30]
Carolina Panthers
[edit]On July 26, 2024, Franks signed with the Carolina Panthers.[31] He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.[32][33] He was promoted to the active roster on September 7, but waived two days later and re-signed to the practice squad.[34][35] He was promoted back to the active roster the following week.
Personal life
[edit]Franks' older brother, Jordan, is a former NFL tight end.[36]
References
[edit]- ^ Andreu, Robbie (February 27, 2017). "Comparing the top two Florida QB candidates this spring". gainesville.com. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
- ^ "Feleipe Franks, Wakulla High School, Pro-Style Quarterback". 247Sports.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- ^ Hays, Chris (November 29, 2015). "Feleipe Franks commits to Gators". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
- ^ Johnson, Chris (November 29, 2015). "Feleipe Franks commits to Florida: Gators flip ex-LSU QB recruit". SI.com. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
- ^ Aschoff, Edward (August 30, 2017). "Florida Gators suspend two more players ahead of season opener vs Michigan – Gators name QB Feleipe Franks Week 1 starter; RB, WR latest to be suspended". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
- ^ Thompson, Edgar (August 30, 2017). "Gators QB Feleipe Franks will start season opener against Michigan". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
- ^ Rapp, Timothy (September 16, 2017). "Feleipe Franks' Hail Mary to Tyrie Cleveland Gives Florida Win over Tennessee". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ "Florida Gators Football Record By Year". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- ^ "2017 Florida Gators Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- ^ Hutchins, Andy (August 27, 2018). "Florida vs. Charleston Southern: Feleipe Franks named Gators' starting QB". Alligator Army. Vox Media. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "2018 Southeastern Conference Year Summary". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- ^ "Inconsistent Franks, No. 8 Florida rally to beat Miami 24-20". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 24, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "No. 9 Florida rallies past Kentucky 29-21 in SEC opener". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 14, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ Sallee, Barrett (September 14, 2019). "Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks 'likely' out for season with dislocated ankle". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ Goldkamp, Thomas (December 1, 2019). "Feleipe Franks announces decision to forgo final year at UF". 247Sports.com. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ Sallee, Barrett (January 20, 2020). "Former Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks announces transfer within conference to Arkansas". CBSSports.com.
- ^ Bratton, Michael Wayne (September 16, 2020). "Arkansas announces team captains for the 2020 season". Saturday Down South. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ "Arkansas tops Mississippi State to end 20-game SEC skid". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 4, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "Florida QB Feleipe Franks Signs Contract with Red Sox, Expected to Play Football". synidcation.bleacherreport.com. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ Abdeldaiem, Alaa (June 5, 2019). "Red Sox Select Florida QB Feleipe Franks in 31st Round of MLB Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "Feleipe Franks Stats, Fantasy & News". milb.com. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ "Feleipe Franks". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- ^ "Feleipe Franks". FoxSports.com. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- ^ "Feleipe Franks Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Feleipe Franks, Arkansas, QB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Falcons agree to terms with 20 college free agents". AtlantaFalcons.com. May 3, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ McElhaney, Tori (September 12, 2021). "Falcons release inactives for home opener vs. Eagles". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ Brown, Larry (November 18, 2021). "Josh Rosen, Feleipe Franks get meme treatment after garbage-time interceptions". MSN. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ "Feleipe Franks leaning into tight end work, hybrid role". atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ "Falcons waive/injured Feleipe Franks, place Ethan Greenidge on IR". SBNation.com. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Rizzutti, Anthony. "Panthers' updated roster following Friday's free-agent additions". Panthers Wire. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (August 27, 2024). "Panthers make moves to get to initial 53-man roster". Panthers.com.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (August 29, 2024). "Panthers bring Jordan Matthews back to 53-man roster". Panthers.com.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (September 7, 2024). "Ian Thomas placed on injured reserve, among other moves". Panthers.com.
- ^ Gantt, Darin. "Panthers waive tight end Feleipe Franks". panthers.com. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Hays, Chris (September 19, 2017). "UCF TE Jordan Franks thrilled to see brother's heroics in person". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
External links
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