Unless John Franklin III embraces being an ex-QB, he's of no use to Auburn
Quarterback is the sexiest position in sports. That’s all there is to it. Naturally, the allure to play there can be intoxicating.
Clearly, that has been the case for Auburn’s John Franklin III. Originally a 3-star recruit out of Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) South Plantation High School, he started his collegiate career at Florida State playing for noted QB guru Jimbo Fisher.
After all, Fisher turned three consecutive starting signal callers — Christian Ponder, EJ Manuel and Jameis Winston — into first-round draft picks, and Franklin was a better athlete than any of them. However, the 6-foot-1, 183-pounder proved to be a limited passer, so the Seminoles wanted to experiment with him at other spots.
As far back as fall camp prior to the 2014 campaign, Franklin was subtly being told that his future was catching passes, not throwing them.
“He has been doing that for a week or so,” Fisher said at the time, according to 247Sports. “There are some things he can do out there athletically that we want to see if we can utilize.”
Franklin wasn’t going to be the next Ponder or Manuel, and certainly not the next Winston. But he didn’t belong on the bench, either. FSU looked for ways to feed him the football and see if he could make magic happen in the open field.
“He can do anything he wants to,” Fisher said. “John is that kind of athlete.”
Ultimately, Franklin rejected the move and left the ‘Noles. He went to famed East Mississippi Community College — and became somewhat infamous for the way he conducted himself on the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U” — before inking with the Tigers prior to 2016. The plan was for him to compete for the starting job.
He had his chances here and there. The story was pretty much the same, though. Franklin just didn’t have enough arm talent.
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In spot duty, he completed 14-of-26 passes for 204 yards with a touchdown and no picks. Some of his highlights came late in garbage time against inferior competition. When it really mattered, Franklin couldn’t spark the offense.
Additionally, it’s not like he was competing with another eventual first-rounder — there were no Winstons on campus. Jeremy Johnson’s tenure on The Plains ended up being a colossal disappointment. While Sean White gets the most out of his ability, to suggest he’s a future pro is generous. And Franklin lagged behind both of them.
Now a senior and seemingly out of options, Franklin is once again lining up at wideout. Fisher was right all along, apparently.
“He’s got a great attitude and wants to help the team,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Tuesday, according to 247Sports.
Jarrett Stidham, the No. 1 JUCO field general in the country for this most recent recruiting cycle, is the overwhelming favorite to lead the Tigers offensively. If Franklin wants playing time, it will be as one of Stidham’s weapons.
“We feel like he can be an impact player,” Malzahn said.
Franklin will get a shot to do his thing in the third phase of the game, too. He ran for 430 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 46 carries a year ago — that’s a healthy 9.4-yard average — which could translate well to being a kick and/or punt returner. Unlike his passing, his speed and elusiveness have never been questioned.
“He’s got a chance to be (a returner),” Malzahn said. “I think everybody knows when he has the ball in his hands he has the unique ability to change the game.”
Additionally, Auburn doesn’t exactly have a depth chart full of highly productive receiving threats right now.
Tony Stevens led the Tigers with just 31 receptions last season, and he was a senior. Marcus Davis and his 17 catches are gone, as well. Then-sophomore Ryan Davis reeled in 25 passes, although he only gained 194 yards.
Four freshmen — Nate Craig-Myers, Kyle Davis, Darius Slayton and Eli Stove — were credited with anywhere from 4 to 23 grabs. Craig-Myers was highly recruited but didn’t see the field that much, which was surprising. Davis made some big plays to average 20.7 yards per catch. Slayton and Stove also flashed at times.
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So far during spring practice, Franklin’s new position group has been impressed with what they’ve seen from the ex-quarterback.
“His speed is something you can’t coach,” Ryan Davis said.
Stove was utilized by Malzahn this past year both as a rusher and a receiver. To go along with his 23 receptions, he ran the ball 11 times for 131 yards and a TD. Perhaps Malzahn sees a similar role for Franklin.
“He’s great, athletic, he knows the game,” said Stove. “He’s a pretty good receiver.”
More than anything, Franklin needs to embrace no longer being the trigger man. He was a square peg at Florida State, although he was trying to bang himself into a round hole — not Fisher. Even his one season in junior college, he wasn’t the primary QB. Wyatt Roberts, who eventually signed with Mississippi State, threw twice as many passes.
Unless Franklin accepts the fact that he’s no longer viable at the game’s most important position, then he’s of no use to Malzahn.
Assuming he looks the way he did for a year at Baylor, Auburn should be in fine shape with Stidham at the controls. He’s the most natural passer Malzahn has had on the roster since taking over head-coaching duties in 2013.
The ground assault should be a force to be reckoned with again in the SEC. Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson might be the conference’s best one-two punch at tailback — yes, even better than Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. But the pass catchers are all unproven. Franklin can run with any of them, that’s for sure.
Franklin thought he was done with “Last Chance U” when he departed EMCC. As it turns out, Auburn has become his own personal Last Chance U.
John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
