One of the stars of the first season of the hit show on Netflix Last Chance U will call FAU home this season. John Franklin III will play receiver for the Owls.
Former Auburn QB John Franklin III told @bmarcello he will transfer to FAU where he’ll play WR for @Lane_Kiffin
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 15, 2017
Huge day for thefaU?!?! Hmmmmmmmmmmm
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) August 15, 2017
This will be JF3’s fourth school he will play college football for. If you recall Franklin’s high school days he was a star dual-threat quarterback in South Plantation in Fort Lauderdale. Rated as a three-star quarterback, some Power Five schools were unsure if his play would translate at the next level in large part due to his size. FIU, Bowling Green and other G5 schools were interested in Franklin as a quarterback but most of the bigger schools passed. However, his speed was enough to land a offer from Florida State.
Franklin transferred away from FSU citing a lack of playing time. At East Mississippi Community College Franklin had his ups and downs but ultimately shined on the field as a quarterback. It was there where we learned that Franklin ultimately saw himself as a player who should play at the Power Five level. Franklin got his wish as Auburn offered him a scholarship and an opportunity to compete for the starting quarterback job.
However, his junior season at Auburn as a quarterback was a dud. Franklin started just one game for the Tigers last year and finished with 204 passing yards for one touchdown, while adding 437 rushing yards for two touchdowns.
This spring it was announced he was making a move to receiver as the arrival of Jarrett Stidham ended any opportunity Franklin had at securing the starting job at quarterback.
Now Franklin will be at his fourth school in four years. With Franklin’s arrival, FAU will now have three former players on the roster who have ties to EMCC.
Given FAU’s need of playmakers to emerge at receiver, Franklin could very well blossom in Boca Raton. His speed was always coveted at the G5 level back to his high school days, and he should be one of the fastest players on the roster and if not one of the fastest players in Conference USA in general. Whether he will finally have success at the college level at a new position however remains to be seen.