Few Minutes Ago, 5-Star QB Kyle Trask Flips Commitment To Arkansas Over Auburn Tigers, Alabama And Georgia Bulldogs.…..
Kyle Trask’s journey stands out as a testament to perseverance, patience, and seizing opportunity. Far from a highly touted prospect, Trask, a three-star quarterback from Manvel, Texas, committed to the University of Florida in 2016, embarking on a path that would see him transform from a backup to a Heisman Trophy contender and eventually an NFL quarterback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Trask’s high school career at Manvel High School was anything but glamorous. Despite his 6’4”, 240-pound frame and a strong arm, he didn’t start a single varsity game after his freshman year, serving as a backup to D’Eriq King, a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who later starred at Miami. College recruiters, wary of his lack of starting experience, largely overlooked Trask. As his high school coach Kirk Martin noted, many college coaches hesitated, citing that Trask was “hard to sell” in recruiting meetings due to his backup status. Yet, Florida’s coaching staff, led by Jim McElwain, saw potential in Trask’s size, accuracy, and work ethic after he impressed at a camp in Gainesville. In July 2015, Trask committed to the Gators, choosing Florida over smaller programs like Houston Baptist and Lamar.
At Florida, Trask’s early years were marked by more waiting. Redshirted in 2016, he saw no action in 2017 after a foot injury sidelined him before the season. In 2018, he played sparingly, appearing in four games as a backup to Feleipe Franks, completing 14 of 22 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Another injury that year further delayed his ascent. It wasn’t until 2019, when Franks suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Kentucky, that Trask finally got his chance. Stepping into the spotlight, he led Florida to a comeback 29-21 victory, throwing for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. This performance marked the beginning of Trask’s transformation into Florida’s starting quarterback.
Trask’s breakout came in 2019 against Auburn, where he threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-13 upset over the No. 7 Tigers, earning national attention. His poise in high-pressure games, like a 310-yard, three-touchdown performance against LSU in Death Valley, solidified his reputation as a reliable leader. By the end of the season, Trask had thrown for 2,941 yards and 25 touchdowns, proving he was more than just a stopgap.
In 2020, Trask elevated his game to elite status. He set a Florida single-season record with 43 touchdown passes, including a historic streak of five consecutive games with four or more touchdowns, a first in SEC history. His 474-yard, four-touchdown performance against Georgia and a 433-yard, four-touchdown game against Tennessee boosted his Heisman candidacy, though he ultimately finished as a finalist. Despite a rough Cotton Bowl outing, where he threw three interceptions without key receivers, Trask’s season cemented his legacy as one of Florida’s greatest quarterbacks, drawing comparisons to legends like Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow.
Selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Trask now backs up one of the greatest quarterbacks in history, Tom Brady. His first NFL touchdown pass came in a 2021 preseason game, a 146-yard performance showcasing his potential. While his rookie season was spent learning behind Brady, Trask’s journey from an overlooked high school backup to an NFL prospect underscores his resilience.
Kyle Trask’s story is not one of flipping commitments or choosing between SEC powerhouses like Auburn, Alabama, or Georgia. Instead, it’s about staying loyal to Florida, waiting for his moment, and proving doubters wrong. As he continues his career in the NFL, Trask remains a symbol of what hard work and belief can achieve, no matter the odds.
