Dak Dillon, USA TODAY SPORTS
Gary Pinkel, head coach of the Missouri Tigers, confirmed on Wednesday’s Southeastern Conference Coaches’ Teleconference that there is indeed a picking order when it comes to the Tigers’ quarterback.
Coming out of spring practice, James Franklin is at the top of the list. Although Franklin did not look great in Mizzou’s spring game (nine-of-15 for 80 yards), he was the best of the three options for Pinkel and his staff. Plus, Franklin brings a ton of experience to the job. He has been the starter for the last two seasons, and was also a standout for the Tigers during their final campaign in the Big 12 Conference.
Pinkel said that the competition will continue into fall camp, but that Franklin is the man for now. Maty Mauk is currently second on the depth chart, which is somewhat surprising especially considering his poor effort in the spring game. During that contest, Mauk hit on only six-of-17 passes for 72 yards, with two ugly interceptions.
Mauk being in the second spot is even more surprising because it means that Corbin Berkstresser, who started a few times last season and filled in when Franklin went down, is relegated to clipboard duty, as for now. Berkstresser also did not look good in the spring game, going nine-of-18 for 93 yards and a pair of interceptions.
What seems like a fairly obvious choice, at least to those outside the program, has not been set in stone just yet. But Franklin is the guy heading into fall camp. If he can regain the form he showed in 2011, while overcoming the injuries he suffered in 2012, it will be the right choice for the Tigers.
