COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is going with senior James Franklin to start at quarterback for the Tigers.
Pinkel
said Franklin, who was dogged by injuries last season, beat out
redshirt freshman Maty Mauk for the job. He felt it was important to
make an announcement well ahead of the Aug. 31 opener against Murray
State.
"James has shown that he's very capable of leading this
team at a high level, and we fully expect him to do that," Pinkel said
Thursday night in a release. "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."
Pinkel added the coaching staff is considering
giving Mauk planned series in games to give him experience. Sophomore
Corbin Berkstresser started four games last year when Franklin was
sidelined and also had been in the competition.
Three former
Missouri quarterbacks are in the NFL. Franklin is among those who got
regular work as the backup, seeing limited playing time in 2010 behind
Blaine Gabbert, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Future Heisman Trophy
finalist and New Orleans Saints backup Chase Daniel got his feet wet
backing up Brad Smith, a longtime wide receiver in the NFL.
"We have a history with that, and it's something that has worked very well for us," Pinkel said.
Franklin
opened fall workouts atop the depth chart and was named one of four
captains on the first day of practice. Pinkel emphasized repeatedly at
that point that the honor did not guarantee the starting job.
Injuries
to Franklin were among the disappointments last year as Missouri went
5-7, ending a string of eight consecutive bowl appearances.
Franklin
had 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions last season, and rushed
for 116 yards and two scores. In 2011, he had 21 touchdown passes with
11 interceptions, and rushed for 981 yards and 15 touchdowns.
