The Edmonton Elks signed wide receiver John Franklin III on Wednesday. Franklin III was featured prominently in the first season of Last Chance U on Netflix.
John Franklin III is six foot one and weighs 186 pounds. The 29-year-old from Lüneburg, Lower Saxony, Germany, made one catch for 11 yards, one carry for eight yards, and one kick return for 36 yards in one game for the Memphis Showboats in 2023 before being placed on injured reserve and missed the rest of the season.
The Showboats (then the Tampa Bay Bandits) drafted Franklin III in the 17th round (137th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Franklin III made 14 catches for 170 yards, three touchdowns, 12 carries for 36 yards, and nine kick returns for 222 yards in eight games.
Before Memphis, Franklin III signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He also had a stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing one regular season game in 2019 with one carry for 11 yards when the Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Collegiately, Franklin III spent two seasons at Florida State (2013-14) appearing in two games for the Seminoles when they won the BCS National Championship in 2014. Next, he transferred to East Mississippi Community College in 2015 playing quarterback completing 64 of 110 passes (58.2%) for 733 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions, 43 carries for 451 yards, and nine touchdowns in nine games for the Lions.
After East Mississippi, Franklin III transferred to Auburn in 2016 completing 14 of 26 passes (53.8%) for 204 yards, one touchdown, 46 carries for 430 yards, two touchdowns, and one catch for -3 yards in 12 games for the Tigers.
Then, Franklin III wrapped up his collegiate career at Florida Atlantic University in 2017 making seven catches for 95 yards, one touchdown, 16 carries for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and completing 1 of 2 passes (50%) for 49 yards in 13 games for the Owls.
