Elks Sign WR John Franklin III
February 21, 2024 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Edmonton Elks News Release
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Elks have signed wide receiver John Franklin III, the club announced Wednesday.
Franklin played the last two seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Memphis Showboats in 2023 and another with the Tampa Bay Bandits in 2022. He appeared in one game for the Showboats, recording one reception for 11 yards, while suiting up in nine games for the Bandits in 2022, where he had 14 catches for 170 yards and three touchdowns.
Prior to joining the USFL, the German-born Franklin spent parts of four seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears (2018) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-21). The 29-year-old played in one game for the Bucs, registering one rush for 11 yards against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 of the 2019 season.
The former quarterback played five seasons of college football with Florida State (2013-14), East Mississippi CC (2015), Auburn University (2016) and Florida Atlantic (2017). In his final year at Florida Atlantic, Franklin made the move from quarterback to wide receiver, totalling seven receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown in 13 games for the Owls.
Franklin was one of the stars of the hit Netflix reality show 'Last Chance U' during its first season.
2024 marks the 75th season of pro football in Edmonton, as the Elks open a new CFL campaign on Saturday, June 8 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium. Season tickets are available now, with all youth season tickets $75 (17 and under) and adult tickets starting at $175.
TRANSACTION
SIGNED
John Franklin III | AMER | WR | 6'1 | 186 LBS | 1994-09-21 | Luneburg, Germany | Florida Atlantic
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