Mizzou Football: Ranking the Five Best Quarterbacks All-Time

Number Three: James Franklin

James Franklin took over as the starter after Gabbert left in 2011 and played parts of three seasons as the starter for the Tigers. He missed part of the 2013 season with an injury that led to a little bit of a quarterback controversy with Maty Mauk.

Franklin stepped in as a good quarterback from the beginning leading the Tigers to the independence bowl in 2011. It was the Tigers last year in the Big Twelve and he helped them go out in style by winning the Independence Bowl and being named the MVP.

2011 was the only season that saw Franklin play without much injury as he spent most of the 2012 season on the sidelines. The first year the Tigers were in the SEC they went 5-7 and Franklin being out, was a big part of it.

Franklin amassed 303 yards and three touchdowns through the air in a shootout with Auburn losing, 59-42.

In 2013, the Tigers finished 12-2 although an injured Franklin split time with Mauk. They went all the way to the SEC Championship game in their second year in maybe the most dominant conference in football. A win may have vaulted them into the National Championship, but Franklin should hardly shoulder the loss.

Franklin amassed 303 yards and three touchdowns through the air in a shootout with Auburn losing, 59-42. Auburn would later go on to lose the National Championship. While they couldn’t secure their shot at the championship, Franklin did lead them to a bowl game victory in the 2013 Cotton Bowl.

Franklin’s career saw him throw for 6962 yards through the air and 51 touchdowns to just 25 picks. He also ran for 1729 yards and 21 scores. He’ll likely never make it in the NFL, and currently isn’t even in the league, but he was exceptional when healthy and still pretty good when hurt for the Mizzou Tigers.

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