Feleipe Franks may have left behind the quarterback spotlight years ago, but the former SEC signal-caller is still finding ways to get noticed in the NFL.
Franks made his 54th regular-season appearance on Sunday, and this time the attention came from special teams. The NFL’s official account highlighted a couple of his hard hits in Week 1, a reminder that the former Florida and Arkansas quarterback has built a very different pro career than the one many college fans once expected.
Former QB Feleipe Franks wasn't messing around on special teams 😳 @Panthers pic.twitter.com/mDLh9DRsZR
- NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2026
A few years back, Franks made the move from quarterback to tight end, and he’s also become a contributor on special teams. That shift has kept him in the league and in the mix for a role with the Carolina Panthers, where he is back for a second stint.
The sight of Franks throwing his weight around also drew a reaction from former Florida running back La’Mical Perine, who took amusement in seeing Franks and fellow ex-Gator linebacker Jeremiah Moon delivering the hits in coverage. All three were part of Florida’s 2016 signing class under Jim McElwain.
That’s moon and franks them gator boys don’t play 😂😂😂
- La’Mical Perine (@LP_deucedeuce) September 14, 2026
Franks’ path has been a winding one since college. He arrived at Florida as the No. 5 pro-style quarterback in his recruiting class and spent his first four college seasons there from 2016-19 before finishing his final year at Arkansas in 2020.
After going undrafted in 2021, Franks signed with the Atlanta Falcons and played quarterback for two seasons. He missed the entire 2023 season because of injury, then returned in 2024 with Carolina as a tight end. The Falcons later brought him back in 2025 in that same role, and he opened the 2026 season with the Panthers again.
In Other News...
Floridas SEC Opener Just Got More Concerning For This Gators Playmaker
Floridas SEC opener has taken on a little more uncertainty with Eric Singleton listed as questionable against Auburn because of an ankle injury. The Gators wide receiver was limited in practice, and coach Jon Sumrall said he is not yet guaranteed to play, a development that matters for a Florida offense trying to get its footing in conference play.
Singleton already missed time after the injury, so the Gators have been managing his status carefully rather than rushing him back. There is still a chance he could be available later in the month against Ole Miss on September 26, but for now Florida is left waiting to see whether one of its more intriguing playmakers can give it a lift when the SEC schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Eric Singleton Jr Brings Major Suspense To Floridas Auburn Test
Floridas prep for Auburn got a little more complicated this week with Jon Sumrall confirming that wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. and defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo were both limited in practice and remain questionable for the matchup. Both players are out of walking boots now, which is at least a sign of progress, but the Gators are still waiting to see whether either can be counted on when the Tigers come to town.
Singleton adds a layer of intrigue all his own because he transferred to Florida from Auburn, and his availability would matter in more ways than one for a team trying to sharpen its edge against a familiar opponent. He has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury in Week 1, leaving Florida to manage both the uncertainty of his status and the possibility that one of its more notable offseason additions might not be ready for one of the most closely watched games on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Commits Delivered A Friday Night Finish Fans Will Want To See
Friday night brought another busy snapshot of Floridas recruiting board, with several Gators commits logging meaningful reps as high school season play rolled on. The roundup touched on game results, team records and individual stat lines, but the biggest takeaway for Florida was how consistently its future class showed up in competitive spots, especially on the defensive side where Ellis McGaskin earned player of the week recognition.
For a program that sells development as much as it sells Saturdays in The Swamp, these are the kinds of performances worth tracking closely. The commits continue to stack game action and production for teams with varying records, and the weekly form chart is starting to matter as much as the raw talent. There was one Friday finish in particular that stood out, though, and it leaves a familiar recruiting question hanging for Gators fans: who among this group is turning momentum into something bigger? [Read more 🡒]