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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The last University of Florida quarterback wearing a No. 15 jersey who tried to become an NFL tight end didn’t have much luck.

“Absolutely not, that does not frighten me,” Falcons quarterback/tight end Feleipe Franks said of a career that at the moment has some interesting parallels with Tim Tebow’s.

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The two are not exact replicas, though. Unlike Tebow, Franks has never started a game at quarterback in the NFL. Also unlike Tebow, he looks like he might make it as a tight end.

“I’m going to try to temper my expectations, but we’ll see where it goes,” Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said of Franks’ position switch, which began last season and became official in the offseason.

For Smith to even admit that he has expectations is an indication of how good Franks has looked at tight end in training camp.

Starting tight end Kyle Pitts’ job is safe. Even (presumed) backup tight end Anthony Firkser’s job is safe for now, but Franks, who played quarterback at Florida and then Arkansas before being signed by Atlanta as an undrafted free agent after the 2021 draft, has played well enough in practice to give himself the possibility of a professional future at his new position.

I've noticed the @18franks hive has been buzzing lately. While I don't have the shot of him trucking Teez Tabor today, I have gotten quite a few plays of him on special teams and tight end.

The former QB is definitely turning some heads in camp.👀 pic.twitter.com/0JU5FIK8FB

— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) August 7, 2022

“Feleipe is an athlete, so I didn’t think it would be hard for him,” Pitts said of his former Florida teammate. “I wouldn’t say it’s hard because he’s already making plays out there. He’s from the quarterback room, so he’s smarter than most tight ends are. I think he’s going to flourish.”

The Falcons signed Franks with the idea that he would play quarterback, but midway through the 2021 season a coach — Franks says he can’t remember which one — mentioned the idea of trying tight end. It’s not difficult to see why. Franks is 6-foot-6, 237 pounds. At his college pro day, he ran a 4.61 40-yard dash (which would have ranked second among tight ends at this year’s NFL combine) and a 4.22 20-yard shuttle (which would have been the best at this year’s NFL combine).

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“At some point during the year, the conversation started being had, and I just started working on that craft,” Franks said.

Almost a year into the experiment, things are going well. Franks has routinely separated from linebackers in one-on-one coverage situations in training camp. Against safeties, it’s been a more competitive affair, but he still has won his share.

“You have to give Feleipe a lot of credit, a lot of guys, they’d have their agent or quarterback whisperer or Instagram guru be bitching up a storm (about the position change),” Smith said. “Feleipe is a special guy.”

Franks spent the bulk of the offseason working on route running.

“I’ve never had to go run a route,” he said. “It was really just having the humility to learn from people.”

Franks didn’t get a single practice snap at quarterback until late in the second week of training camp. The Falcons have increased his quarterback load this week, presumably to get him ready for Friday night’s preseason game against Detroit. Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder will play against the Lions, but it’s likely Franks will get some quarterback snaps as well.

What’s certain is that he will get work at tight end as the Falcons try to figure out whether what they’re seeing from Franks in practice can be believed in games.

“It’s impressive what he’s doing. It says a lot about him,” Smith said. “The guy loves to play football, obviously got a big arm. There have been guys who have made transitions. He’s a unique athlete. He’s getting better every day. All he wants to do is carve out a role and help us win, and I appreciate that.”

“Unique” is a good way to describe Franks. In addition to his multi-position skill in football, he was a good enough baseball player to be drafted in the 31st round of the 2019 MLB Draft despite not playing the sport since high school, and he spent some time with the Red Sox in extended spring training in 2019.

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“Feleipe is an athlete, man,” Falcons safety Jaylinn Hawkins said.

Franks has not given up on being an NFL quarterback. So far, though, his only professional pass attempt resulted in an interception against the Patriots last season. He also carried the ball three times for 6 yards in limited action last year.

“I don’t give up on anything,” he said. “I still practice it. In my head, I try to be the best at all positions, everything I am asked to do. If I’m asked to do quarterback 5 percent and tight end 95 percent, that’s OK, I’m still going to work hard in that 5 percent playing quarterback. It’s not something I’ve forgotten about. It’s about the team and whatever they ask me to do, work hard at it.”

(Photo: David J. Griffin / Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

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