Feleipe Franks Bio
Feleipe Franks (born December 22, 1997) is an American professional football tight end in the National Football League (NFL). A former quarterback, he played three years of college football at the University of Florida before transferring to the University of Arkansas for his final collegiate season. Franks signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and has since moved between several NFL rosters while converting from quarterback to a hybrid tight end role.
Born and raised in Crawfordville, Florida, Franks first gained statewide attention as a standout high school passer. Listed at 6 feet 6 inches and 241 pounds, he possesses the frame and arm talent that made him one of the most heavily recruited quarterbacks of his class. Over the course of his professional career, he has appeared on the rosters of the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, contributing on offense and special teams while reshaping his role on the field.
Early Life and Background
Feleipe Franks was born on December 22, 1997, in Crawfordville, Florida, a small community in Wakulla County in the Florida Panhandle. He grew up in the same tight-knit region and attended Wakulla High School, where he developed into one of the most productive passers in Florida high school football history. During his high school career, Franks passed for 6,867 yards and 81 touchdowns, statistics that established him as a premier recruit nationally.
Major recruiting services regarded Franks as a four-star prospect. The 247Sports Composite ranked him as the fifth-highest pro-style quarterback and the 54th-highest overall player in his class. On June 1, 2014, Franks originally committed to Louisiana State University to play college football. He later changed his decision, switching his commitment to the University of Florida on November 29, 2015, a move that set the stage for his collegiate career in the Southeastern Conference.
Beyond football, Franks was also a talented baseball player in high school. That dual-sport background would later play a role in his professional journey, when an MLB organization selected him in the 2019 draft while he was still active in college football.
Path to Professional Football
Franks enrolled at the University of Florida in 2016 and immediately joined a quarterback room loaded with talent and competition. He redshirted his first season to develop physically and mentally, then entered 2017 as part of a three-way race for the starting job. Franks ultimately won the role heading into the season opener against Michigan, beating out 2016 starter Luke Del Rio and Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire. His first career start was a learning experience, but he soon delivered one of the most memorable moments of his Florida tenure with a 63-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Tyrie Cleveland to beat Tennessee 26–20.
Across three seasons as Florida’s starting quarterback, Franks showed flashes of his arm strength and playmaking ability, finishing with 4,149 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns, and a strong 2018 campaign in which the Gators reached 10 wins and a Peach Bowl victory over Michigan. However, his Florida career ended abruptly in 2019 when he suffered a broken ankle against Kentucky, an injury that forced him to step away from the program. On December 1, 2019, Franks announced his decision to leave Florida, and in January 2020 he committed to the University of Arkansas to finish his college career.
Feleipe Franks Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Franks’ early career as a Florida Gator began with a redshirt year in 2016, when he worked behind veteran quarterbacks and focused on learning the offensive system. His redshirt freshman season in 2017 featured highs and lows, including the dramatic game-winning throw against Tennessee and a finish that saw the Gators slip to a 4–7 record. Despite the team struggles, Franks led Florida in passing with 1,438 yards, nine touchdowns, and eight interceptions, gaining valuable experience as a young starter.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2018, Franks took a major step forward. He threw for 2,457 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just six interceptions while adding seven rushing scores, finishing with 31 total touchdowns that tied for third in the Southeastern Conference. His play helped the Gators finish 10–3, capped by a Peach Bowl win over Michigan. The 2019 season, however, ended after just three games when he broke his ankle against Kentucky, leading to his departure from the program and his transfer to Arkansas.
Arkansas Season (2020)
Franks quickly established himself as a team leader at Arkansas, where he was named one of four captains for the 2020 season. He was also named the starting quarterback for the Razorbacks’ opener against Georgia. His most notable moment came on October 3, 2020, when he led Arkansas to a 21–14 upset victory over No. 16 Mississippi State. The win ended a 20-game SEC losing streak and a 15-game losing streak against ranked opponents, providing a signature moment for both Franks and the program.
His lone season as Arkansas’ starting quarterback helped revive his professional prospects. Although Arkansas finished below .500, Franks’ experience and arm talent convinced NFL teams that he had the tools to develop at the next level, even if a position change might be required to keep him on a roster.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2021–2023)
On May 3, 2021, Franks signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. He entered training camp as the third-string quarterback behind Matt Ryan and Josh Rosen. His NFL debut came in Week 11 of the 2021 season during the Falcons’ final drive against the New England Patriots. His first professional pass was intercepted by safety Adrian Phillips, capping a difficult 25–0 loss, but the appearance marked his official arrival in the league.
In June 2022, the Falcons began working Franks out at tight end in a hybrid role that took advantage of his size and athleticism. The position change gave him a clearer path to staying on an NFL roster, and he spent the rest of his first Atlanta stint developing at his new spot. On August 3, 2023, Franks was waived with an injury designation and placed on injured reserve, ending his first run with the Falcons.
Carolina Panthers (2024)
On July 26, 2024, Franks signed with the Carolina Panthers in search of a fresh start. He was waived on August 27 but was re-signed to the practice squad the same day. Franks was promoted to the active roster on September 7, only to be waived two days later and brought back to the practice squad. He was promoted back to the active roster the following week, where he spent the rest of the 2024 season contributing in a reserve role.
Atlanta Falcons (2025)
On March 20, 2025, Franks signed with the Atlanta Falcons, returning to the organization that originally gave him his NFL opportunity. The reunion allowed him to continue his development as a tight end while providing Atlanta with additional depth at the position. He appeared in a limited capacity during the 2025 season, logging early-career receiving production in a reserve role.
Driving Style and Strengths
Franks’ strengths on the field have shifted since his college days as a pure passer. As a converted tight end, he now relies on his 6-foot-6 frame, long arms, and physicality to win as a blocker and short-area receiver. His background as a starting quarterback gives him an advanced understanding of offensive concepts, route timing, and pre-snap reads, which has made him an asset in two-point and play-action looks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most memorable moments of Franks’ career are his 63-yard Hail Mary touchdown against Tennessee in 2017, his role in Florida’s Peach Bowl win over Michigan in 2018, and his game-winning performance against Mississippi State while at Arkansas. On a personal milestone, he was selected in the 31st round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox, signing for $40,000, though he was officially released from that contract in April 2023 to focus solely on football.
Feleipe Franks Career Wins
Feleipe Franks has accumulated a varied set of team victories across his time as a college quarterback and reserve NFL tight end. His most celebrated wins came during the 2018 Florida Gators season, when he helped guide the team to a 10–3 record and a Peach Bowl victory, and during the 2020 Arkansas Razorbacks’ upset of No. 16 Mississippi State, which ended two long team losing streaks.
College and NFL Highlights
During his three seasons as a starting quarterback at Florida, Franks helped the program to its first 10-win season since 2012 and contributed to a New Year’s Six bowl victory. At Arkansas, his leadership was central to one of the program’s most meaningful wins in recent memory. In the NFL, his role has been more limited, but he has continued to log appearances for both the Falcons and Panthers while carving out a niche on special teams and as a blocking tight end.
Feleipe Franks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Feleipe Franks comes from a family with a strong football tradition. His older brother, Jordan Franks, is a former NFL tight end, giving Feleipe a direct connection to the position he would later transition to at the professional level. Growing up in a football household helped shape his early development as a multi-sport athlete in Crawfordville.
Personal Life
Franks has continued to maintain close ties to his family and to his hometown of Crawfordville, Florida. He is known for his dual-sport background, having played both football and baseball at Wakulla High School, an experience that gave him a wide athletic foundation. He has generally kept his personal life out of the public eye while focusing on extending his NFL career.
2025 Season Performance
Feleipe Franks returned to the Atlanta Falcons in March 2025, where he spent the regular season contributing as a reserve tight end. In a limited offensive role, he posted his first career regular-season reception and finished the year with modest counting statistics that reflected his place on the depth chart. His primary value came on special teams and in scout-team work that helped the Falcons prepare weekly for opposing defenses.
The 2025 season was a year of stabilization for Franks, who had bounced between practice squads and active rosters over the previous two seasons. Rejoining the Falcons allowed him to grow within a familiar system and build on the position change the team initiated in 2022. As a converted quarterback, he continued to provide a unique skill set that few other tight ends in the league can offer.
Looking ahead, Franks’ outlook in the NFL remains tied to his ability to stay healthy and to develop further as a blocker and short-yardage receiver. His size, football intelligence, and prior starting experience at quarterback give him a long runway to expand his role. Continued production in limited snaps could open the door to a more prominent role on offense in future seasons.
