john franklin
Auburn offered JUCO quarterback John Franklin on Friday (Photo courtesy 247Sports)
John Franklin III put up a monster performance in what was likely his last game of the season, and earned an offer from Auburn the next day.
Franklin rushed for 172 yards on 10 carries with five touchdowns and hit 10-of-16 passes for 119 yards in a score for East Mississippi Community College in a 48-0 road victory over Mississippi Delta Community College on Thursday.
EMCC was then removed from the MACJC playoffs because of a bench-clearing brawl. But the 6-foot, 183-pound Franklin made the most of his performance in front of Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, and earned an offer on Friday.
"After the game, (Lashlee) talked to my coaching staff and my coaches said they were going to offer me," Franklin said. "I talked to him late last night after they got out of meetings."
Franklin started his career at Florida State, playing the role of former Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall on the scout team prior to the FSU-Auburn BCS national championship game in Jan. 2014. He transferred to EMCC over the summer.
"They say they're missing a run game at the quarterback position and that's what they think I can bring," Franklin said. "At least with Cam Newton and Nick Marshall, that's what they're missing at the position and I feel like I'd be a great fit in their offense."
Franklin, whose only other offer right now is Buffalo, said that the Tigers are atop his list.
"Auburn is definitely my No. 1 school for right now," Franklin said. "I don't plan on making any decisions for right now, but as far as being my top school, they're up there in my No. 1 spot."
He made an unofficial visit to Auburn for its Oct. 3 game against San Jose State.
"I liked the atmosphere," Franklin said. "As a quarterback in my situation, that's definitely the type of offense I need to be in. The quarterback situation they have now is definitely appealing to the eye."
Franklin said he will talk it over with his family and decide which one of Auburn's final three home games he'll officially visit for.
He wants to make a decision by December so he can enroll in January. Franklin expects more offers to come.
"My junior college coaches say that a lot of schools will come in November," Franklin said. "It's toward the end of the season and I'm healthy and a lot of my offers will start coming in now like they did last year with (former EMCC, current Ole Miss quarterback) Chad Kelly, when they came in mid-November or late October."
Auburn has a commitment from Woody Barrett of West Orange High School near Orlando. Both Franklin and Barrett would bring a dual-threat dimension to the quarterback position that Auburn does not have on its roster.
EMCC was removed from the playoffs after this brawl on Thursday, which ended the game right before halftime because of numerous ejections.
"It was one of those things that happened," Franklin said. "I felt like it was planned from the get-go. A couple of things happened in pregame that were really uncalled for from their side. Our coaches are appealing the decision from the commissioner so hopefully we get a chance to continue playing but we'll just have to figure it out when we get back on Sunday what direction we'll be moving in."
Check out Franklin's junior college highlight film.