The lineage begins with Brad Smith, who came to Missouri from Ohio, took a redshirt in 2001 and began one of the greatest careers by a quarterback in N.C.A.A. history in 2002. It continues with Chase Daniel, who carried a clipboard in 2005 before replacing Smith a year later, and left as the most prolific passer in program history. Then comes Blaine Gabbert, who swapped a verbal commitment to Nebraska for a commitment to Missouri and left, one year too soon, as a first-round draft pick. Filling out the lineage is sophomore James Franklin, the next in line, and he may end up being the best of them all.
That’s heady praise for a quarterback one year into his life as a starter. That’s headier praise when given Missouri’s recent history at the position, which might be the most impressive of any team in the country. How many programs have had a Brad Smith, let alone a Smith, a Chase Daniel and a first-round draft pick?
I mean ever, not in the last decade. Texas had its own star in Vince Young, not to mention a fantastic follow-up in Colt McCoy, but the Longhorns have ranked near the bottom of the nation in terms of quarterback play since turning from one McCoy, Colt, to another, Case – with a dash of Garrett Gilbert sprinkled in between.
U.S.C. might top Missouri, but ask yourself this: Matt Leinart was great, but would have been better than Smith had he lined up in Columbia, not Los Angeles? John David Booty was a good college quarterback, but to say he stood neck-and-neck with Daniel stretches the boundary of imagination.
Back to Franklin, the present and future king of Columbia. As of 16 months ago, his landing spot in the starting lineup was due to be in 2012, not 2011; Gabbert had the skills, but there’s little doubt that he could have used an additional year of seasoning on the college level.
But Gabbert left, somewhat misguidedly so, and Franklin was thrust into a starring role. He responded with a season that stands up statistically with Smith’s best – Smith was better, more of a game-breaker, but even in a quarterback-friendly Big 12, Franklin made you take notice.
He threw for 2,872 yards, including a season-high 325 yards in a toe-to-toe duel with Baylor’s Robert Griffin III in early November. On that Saturday, there was little differentiating the eventual Heisman winner from the fast-rising upstart. Franklin rushed for another 981 yards and 15 scores, putting the running game on his back once running back Henry Josey suffered a season-ending injury against Texas.
He rushed for 103 yards and 2 scores against Oklahoma. Another 97 yards against Texas A&M, 152 yards against Texas Tech and 142 yards in an Independence Bowl mauling of North Carolina – scoring twice in each game as well. But playing in league with Griffin III, Brandon Weeden, Collin Klein and Landry Jones kept Franklin under the radar.
Like the program as a whole, the upcoming move to the SEC is going to provide Franklin with a serious test. Franklin, in turn, will test the SEC. Connor Shaw may share his running skills but fails as a passer. Aaron Murray and Tyler Wilson are better passers, but neither moves like Franklin. No would-be starter in the SEC shares Franklin’s skill set.
What if he leads Missouri to a major bowl or two over the next two years? Then Franklin might end up standing alongside Smith and Daniel as the program’s best, validating the promise he flashed as a first-year starter. If he does that, what will his successor do for an encore?
Season grade: A- Not as many wins as in 2010, and not quite the most eye-popping resume of wins. But looking merely at the end result, eight wins, ignores Missouri’s trials and tribulations along the way. The Tigers lost five starters off the 2010 defense: Aldon Smith – as good in college as he was this year for the 49ers – Andre Gachkar and three members in the secondary. Losing your best pass rusher and retooling your secondary is often a recipe for disaster in the Big 12, and Missouri’s pass defense did struggle, as most expected. Then the offensive line encountered its own fair share of injury-related calamities. But the Tigers persevered. A very good season, and the strong finish sends Missouri into the SEC on a high note.
High point A 17-5 win over Texas on Nov. 12. It was the first of four straight to end the season, and marked a fine return for the defense after an ugly three-game stretch.
Low point An overtime loss to Arizona State in September. I realize September’s Sun Devils differed from December’s Sun Devils, but still: a game Missouri should have won. You can understand the rest, seeing that the Tigers’ four remaining losses came to Oklahoma, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Baylor.
Offensive M.V.P. It’s Franklin, if you missed above. But I’d be remiss not to mention Josey, who would have been an all-American had he not suffered that gruesome knee injury in the win over the Longhorns. Through nine games, Josey had rushed for 1,149 yards on 8.6 yards per carry.
Defensive M.V.P. Let’s share the wealth. Sheldon Richardson for being an imposing interior presence; the former JUCO transfer lived up to the hype. The linebacker pairing of Luke Lambert and Andrew Wilson for finishing one-two on the team in tackles and tackles for loss. And the end duo of Brad Madison and Jacquies Smith, who helped offset Aldon Smith’s early departure – even if Smith proved harder to replace than previously thought, if that’s possible.
Stock watch All eyes are on Missouri and A&M as each prepares for life in the SEC, and judging each program’s future level of success in the conference based solely on the 2012 season would be unfair. Eventually, I think Missouri will find its footing; for the Tigers, that means hovering the stratosphere of eight or nine wins, though becoming one of the league’s two B.C.S. teams is going to be as difficult as advertised. But the future’s rosier than it was, if only because Missouri ditched the Texas-leaning Big 12 for the premier conference in college football. Does that mean Missouri’s going to win 10 games in 2012, such as it might have done in its old stomping grounds? Nope. But I think Missouri will take seven or eight wins and the SEC over 10 wins and the Big 12.
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