#9- James Franklin/ Quarterback/ Missouri Tigers/ Sophomore
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel runs a fast, up-tempo, high scoring offense that has one common element in each of his teams successful years in the Big 12; a dual threat quarterback who is capable and owns the ability to run the system to perfection. Starting with Brad Smith in 2002-2005, Smith threw for 8,799 and rushed for 4,289 yards in his career. From 2005-2008, Chase Daniel threw an outstanding career mark of 12,515 yards with 141 touchdowns and rushed for 975 yards and 10 scores on his feet. Jacksonville Jaguars first round draft pick in 2010 Blaine Gabbert took over for Daniel from 2008-2010, and threw for 6,822 with a 40/18 touchdown to interception ratio in his two years as a starter .Missouri has had tremendous quarterback production under Pinkel, and I don't see that trend coming to end anytime soon. Coming into this season, Gabbert's younger brother Tyler, and sophomore James Franklin were battling for the starting job, with Franklin coming out as number one on the depth chart. Tyler Gabbert lost the battle to start at quarterback then decided to transfer in the spring, leaving the position clearly to Franklin. The 6'2 230 lbs sophomore saw action in 9 games as a true freshman last fall, throwing 11 for 14 with 106 passing yards and a touchdown, and rushing for 116 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. Franklin's success came in limited action last year, and entering the 2011 season, the dual threat starting quarterback looks poised to be the next great multidimensional gun slinger on campus in Columbia, Missouri.
Franklin, a sophomore from Corinth, Texas, has 4 legitimate targets to throw to this fall, and could see his numbers and stock as a big time NCAA quarterback rise to the heavens. Returning all but one offensive lineman and senior wide receiver's Wes Kemp and Jerrell Jackson, Junior T.J Moe, and senior Tight End Michael Egnew should go a long way for the success of Jonathan Franklin and Missouri Tigers in 2011.
Article: Ronald Hill
Photo: courtesy of columbiamissourian.com
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