The Missouri Tigers will start the season with senior quarterback James Franklin under center, according to a YouTube video published by head coach Gary Pinkel Thursday night:
Missouri names James Franklin as starting quarterback
The third-year starter beat out redshirt freshman Maty Mauk for the job, according to head coach Gary Pinkel.
Jamie Squire
Pinkel said that both quarterbacks have been impressive, but settling on Franklin was the right call for the team.
“James has shown that he’s very capable of leading this team at a high level, and we fully expect him to do that,” said Pinkel. “He’s really developed as a leader of this offense, and of this team, and we feel he’s ready to be the difference maker he was before all of the health challenges he dealt with last season,” said Pinkel.
Franklin was reportedly locked in a competition for the starting spot with redshirt freshman Maty Mauk. Pinkel indicated in his video that Mauk will play situationally this season.
Franklin enters his third season as the Tigers’ starting quarterback. After a productive sophomore season where he threw for 2,872 yards and 21 touchdowns, injuries derailed his 2012 campaign. Franklin completed just 59.4 percent of his 234 pass attempts last year, throwing for 1,562 yards and just 10 touchdowns. Franklin’s ability as a runner was neutralized, as well: After rushing for 981 yards and 15 scores as a sophomore, Franklin did not run as often in 2012, tallying just 122 rushing yards on 88 carries and failing to find the end zone. Pinkel told reporters at SEC Media Day that Franklin “had more injuries and more things happen to him than any quarterback I’ve ever coached.”
Franklin was elected as a team captain at the beginning of August camp, though Pinkel said that election had no bearing on his decision to name the senior as his starter.
Missouri opens its 2013 season on Aug. 31 against Murray State.
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