As of last Sunday, James Franklin was still named the man under center -- or, behind center, given offensive scheme -- for Missouri.
According to Franklin, however, he’s not the same man he was before injuring his throwing shoulder.
Despite being nearly “symptom free” last week from the injury, which he suffered in spring practice, it was clear that Franklin was not his normal self in last Saturday’s 31-10 loss at No. 6 South Carolina. Franklin tossed for only 92 yards against a salty Gamecocks defense and was knocked around the entire game.
The lingering pain -- Franklin does not take painkillers -- has been hurting his confidence, he says.
“Typically in the game if, in the past, my shoulder’s hurt, and I throw in the game, I don’t feel it,” Franklin said via the AP. “But this is a little different because I feel it. And I think that’s really been killing my confidence because I’ve been not trusting myself with being able to make throws or put something on it.”
Franklin will have an opportunity to regain that confidence this Saturday against UCF before a five-game SEC stretch that features four divisional opponents and Alabama. Gary Pinkel maintains that there’s no quarterback controversy with his team, but if Franklin can’t get back on track over the next few weeks, it will be interesting to see if Pinkel makes a permanent move with backup Corbin Berkstresser.