GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks had a fairly remarkable turnaround during the 2018 season after a reasonably dismal redshirt freshman campaign.

He accounted for 31 total touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions, navigating a difficult personal stretch of play midway through the season to ultimately help Florida win 10 games and cruise in a Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl thrashing of Michigan.

Franks joined the Paul Finebaum Show on Tuesday afternoon, about one month ahead of spring practice, to talk about just how much change he and the program have undergone since coach Dan Mullen took over.

"It was something different. But sometimes change is for the best," Franks said. " I think that's what helped this program out with, it was for the better. Especially for me it helped me develop more as a quarterback, become a better leader and help these guys initially go to a championship like the Peach Bowl and win it."

One of the major differences that Franks pointed to was just how much confidence Mullen had in him. Or, at least, in his own ability to develop Franks.

Though public doubt in the fanbase swirled constantly about whether Franks could get the job done or whether fellow redshirt sophomore Kyle Trask or true freshman Emory Jones should get a shot to start, Mullen never really seemed to entertain such ideas. Both spoke extensively about how key that was for Franks.

"It's awesome. It's not one of those types of coaches where you're always uptight and you want to do everything perfect or if you mess up, it's the end of the world," Franks said. "It's something where coach Mullen is very open. You goof around and when you're in film, you kick back and you're there to learn. You're there each and every day to become a better quarterback and a better leader. You go in there with an open mind every single day, with a mindset to learn and be like a sponge and take all the information in you can from him and coach (Brian) Johnson."

It was easy to see at certain points just how frustrated Franks was at times given all the constant criticism he faced.

During the South Carolina game -- a game in which Franks led a 17-point comeback win -- Franks visibly "shushed" the crowd after scoring touchdowns. Maybe it wasn't the most fan-friendly gesture, but it seemed to fire him up.

He cited that game as the turning point for the team as the Mullen era began in earnest.

Now, Franks and all of his teammates are simply having fun playing the game again. Not just on Saturdays, but even during practices, strength and conditioning sessions, in the film room. That's a huge change from the last few years.

"It's something that I look forward to every single day, going in there and becoming a better quarterback," Franks said. "Because I know at the end of the day he's going to prepare me to go out there and win games under center. So it's very exciting each and every day."

Franks fully expects his development to continue under Mullen.

"That's just going to keep on helping me to develop as a quarterback over the next year or so and just keep leading these guys and keep trying to win a championship and bring it back to Gainesville," he said.

Only a year? It wouldn't be the most surprising thing in the world.

Franks has prototype NFL size and athleticism with a cannon for an arm. And if Mullen continues to get the growth by leaps and bounds he got from the big-armed quarterback in 2018, perhaps only one more year of development before the next level isn't so crazy after all.