Zakhari Franklin: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}

|name=Zakhari Franklin

|school=Illinois Fighting Illini

|currentnumber=

|major=Finance

|birth_date= {{birth date and age|2000|10|15}}

|birth_place=[[Cedar Hill, Texas]]

|highschool=[[Cedar Hill High School|Cedar Hill]]<br>([[Cedar Hill, Texas]])

*[[UTSA Roadrunners football|UTSA]] (2019–2022)

*[[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]] (2023)

*[[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illnois]] (2024–present)

|highlights=

*2× First team All-[[Conference USA]] (2021, 2022)

'''Zakhari Franklin''' (born October 15, 2000) is an [[American football]] [[wide receiver]] for the [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illinois Fighting Illini]]. He previously played for the [[UTSA Roadrunners football|UTSA Roadrunners]] and the [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss Rebels]]

Franklin grew up in [[Cedar Hill, Texas]] and attended [[Cedar Hill High School]]. caught 23 passes for 687 yards and nine touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dallasweekly.com/2021/10/roland-parrishs-student-athlete-of-the-week-zakhari-franklin/|title=Roland Parrish's Student Athlete of the Week: Zakhari Franklin|work=Dallas Weekly|date=October 28, 2021|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref> Franklin committed to play [[college football]] at the [[University of Texas at San Antonio]] (UTSA).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2019/02/05/cedar-hill-wr-zakhari-franklin-commits-to-utsa/|title=Cedar Hill WR Zakhari Franklin commits to UTSA|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=February 5, 2019|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref>

Franklin began his college career playing for the [[UTSA Roadrunners football|UTSA Roadrunners]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/college_sports/utsa/article/Freshman-receiver-Zakhari-Franklin-emerging-for-14830178.php|title=Freshman receiver Zakhari Franklin emerging for UTSA Roadrunners|work=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|date=November 12, 2019|access-date=July 25, 2023}}</ref> He had 38 catches for 491 yards and three touchdowns during his freshman season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2022/07/23/the-lone-star-50-no-35-zakhari-franklin-ready-to-step-into-the-spotlight-at-utsa?ref=related_thumb|title=The Lone Star 50: No. 35 Zakhari Franklin ready to step into spotlight at UTSA|work=[[Dave Campbell's Texas Football]]|date=July 23, 2022|access-date=July 25, 2023}}</ref> Franklin was named honorable mention All-[[Conference USA]] after catching 49 passes for 694 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/colleges/utsa/article/Takeaways-Receiver-Zakhari-Franklin-shines-in-16436730.php|title=Takeaways: WR Franklin shines in UTSA's upset of Illinois|work=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|date=September 5, 2021|access-date=July 25, 2023}}</ref> He was named first team All-Conference USA at the end of his junior season after setting school records with 81 catches, 1,027 receiving yards, and 12 touchdown receptions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/colleges/utsa/article/UTSA-s-potent-wideout-trio-aiming-for-explosive-17352933.php|title=UTSA's potent wideout trio aiming for explosive 2022 season|work=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|date=August 4, 2022|access-date=July 25, 2023}}</ref> As a senior, Franklin reset his program records with 94 receptions for 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/colleges/utsa/article/utsa-transfer-zakhari-franklin-lands-ole-miss-18134089.php|title=UTSA transfer Zakhari Franklin lands at Ole Miss|work=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|date=June 4, 2023|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref> After the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal and utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/colleges/utsa/article/reports-utsa-receiver-zakhari-franklin-enters-17925998.php|title=UTSA receiver Zakhari Franklin enters transfer portal|work=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref>

Franklin ultimately transferred to [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ole-miss-lands-utsa-wr-zakhari-franklin-the-top-player-available-in-transfer-portal/|title=Ole Miss lands UTSA WR Zakhari Franklin, the top player available in transfer portal|first=Will|last=Backus|website=[[CBS Sports]]|date=June 3, 2023|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref>

*[https://olemisssports.com/sports/football/roster/zakhari-franklin/4898 Ole Miss Rebels bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Franklin, Zakhari}}

[[Category:2000 births]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:American football wide receivers]]

[[Category:UTSA Roadrunners football players]]

[[Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players]]

[[Category:Players of American football from Texas]]

[[Category:People from Cedar Hill, Texas]]

{{widereceiver-stub}}