Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE - Though he’s never thrown a pass for the Razorbacks, Feleipe Franks arm already is viewed potentially golden.

The graduate transfer to the University of Arkansas via the University of Florida, former Gators starting quarterback become Arkansas first-team quarterback entering preseason practice was named Tuesday to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List.

The Award, named for  Unitas, the late NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, annually honors the top senior quarterback set to graduate with their class chosen for their “performance on and off the field,” by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee.

Lettering his three (2017-2019) Florida seasons, Franks started eight games as a 2017 redshirt freshman while passing for 1,438 yards and nine touchdowns. Franks started all 13 games in 2018 leading Coach Dan Mullen’s Gators to a 10-3 season while passing for  2,457 yards and 24 touchdowns, and running seven touchdowns among his 350  rushing yards. Franks started Florida’s first three games in 2019. During that third game he suffered a season-ending broken ankle. Franks’ injury  created the opportunity for current Florida starting quarterback Kyle Trask to win that SEC opener against Kentucky and on to an 11-2 season.

Trask also is on the Unitas Watch List as is Nick Starkel, an Arkansas graduate transfer quarterback in 2019 via Texas A&M, resurfacing as a 2020 graduate transfer to San Jose State.

It was reported by Otis Kirk Tuesday afternoon that Luke Jones, the sophomore offensive lineman Pulaski Academy grad who redshirted at Arkansas as a 2019 walk-on sophomore transferfrom Notre Dame, has been placed on scholarship by Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman.

While at Pulaski Academy, Jones had verbally committed to sign with former Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema’s regime but upon Bielema getting fired opted for Notre Dame.

He joined former Arkansas Coach Chad Morris’ Razorbacks to redshirt last year while practicing on the scout team.