Missouri names starting QB

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel has named James Franklin as his starting quarterback for the first game of the season against Murray State.

Franklin, who spent a lot of 2013 injured, still had 1,562 yards passing with 10 TDs and 7 INTS. He beat redshirt freshman Maty Mauk to the finish, although it has been reported that Mauk may well get some in-game play as experience for the SEC.

Pinkel said: “James has shown that he’s very capable of leading this team at a high level, and we fully expect him to do that….He’s really developed as a leader of this offense, and of this team, and we feel he’s ready to be the difference-maker he was before all of the health challenges he dealt with last season.”

Missouri fans will hope so.