John Franklin III finally relented at 12:17 p.m. on Friday. He’d just finished his first practice as a Florida Atlantic receiver, but still he found a way to be the last Owl on the field.
As some of his teammates sought refuge in the shade or in the ice baths, Franklin gravitated to the Jugs machine. The Auburn transfer wanted to work on his pass-catching after spending most of his collegiate career as a quarterback. He caught balls in front of him, at his side, one-handed, and without gloves.
When he finished, nearly three hours after practice began, Franklin explained why FAU became his fourth school in five years.