SAN ANTONIO -- Feleipe’ Franks moved into his Florida dorm room on Sunday night. Jacob Eason gets started at Georgia on Monday. As soon as their time at the U.S. Army All American Bowl ended, they departed for their new homes.
So much awaits them. The ESPN 300 quarterbacks both signed up for sky-high and possibly unfair expectations. Both could earn starting jobs as freshmen. And, of course, both are expected to be rivals from this day forward. In the not-too-distant future, Eason vs. Franks could decide a few SEC East titles.
“We haven’t really talked about that yet,” Eason said, “but we know what we’re doing.”
They had reason to be rivals when they showed up for the Army Bowl. After all, Florida did bring Eason in for a December official visit just days after Franks, a former LSU commit, had given his pledge to the Gators.
Upon learning of Eason’s visit, Franks offered this frank response to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Not good.”
That potentially awkward clash was avoided when Eason reaffirmed his commitment to Georgia on Dec. 15. Franks insisted Sunday he wasn’t upset by Florida coach Jim McElwain’s pursuit of Eason.
“That didn’t matter to me,” Franks said. “He visited somewhere. I visited places a lot too. That got blown out of proportion.”
It’s not like Eason wanted to be in that position. He hadn’t been through the recruiting process since his sophomore year. The coaching switch from Mark Richt to Kirby Smart forced him to at least reconsider his other options.
“Everybody’s got to go where they’re going to fit,” Eason said. “Feleipe’ found his home. I found my home. There are no hard feelings there.”
They knew each other a little from competing at the Elite 11 finals in July. They’re tighter now after a week together in San Antonio on the East squad. Franks calls Eason a cool guy. Eason likes how funny and goofy Franks can be. No beef to be found here.
“I mean, we’re friends,” Eason said.
They’ve got more in common than they might realize. They’re 6-foot-5 gunslingers heading into the SEC pressure cooker and hoping they can live up to the out-of-control hype. Eason, the Bulldogs’ highest-rated QB signee since Aaron Murray, has been on future savior status with their fan base ever since he first committed.
“The fans are going to have to realize I’m going to be a freshman. I’ll have my ups and downs. I’m going to realize that too,” Eason said. “There are no guarantees. I’m looking to go there and compete with the guys there, learn from them, buy in to the process and we’ll see where it all goes. Good season, bad season, may start, may not start -- we’ll see.”
The Army game wasn’t what either expected -- Eason threw for 71 yards with an interception and a fumble, Franks had one completion and two picks -- but the week of practice got them warmed up for what’s next. And Franks was ready to hit the road immediately.
Mom got him all packed up while he was in San Antonio. Franks caught a flight to Tallahassee on Sunday, gathered his stuff at home in nearby Crawfordville and made the 140-mile drive southeast to Gainesville.
At Florida, Franks will have to beat out Treon Harris and transfers Luke Del Rio and Austin Appleby. He doesn’t know what will be asked of him in 2016, but he’s stayed busy working out with his brother, UCF receiver Jordan Franks, to ensure he’ll be prepared. Franks welcomes the pressure.
“Oh no, no, no, I’m not nervous at all,” he said.
He knows getting reps and getting ready with Eason was good for his game, too.
“We got each other better throughout the week,” Franks said. “Now we’re definitely going our separate ways.”
If all goes as planned, their paths should cross again soon. They can’t wait for their first face-off in Jacksonville.
“Georgia-Florida is a rivalry,” Eason said, “but I don’t think me and Feleipe’ will be a rivalry.”