The Seminoles believe they have found someone who can help Florida State stop Oregon’s star quarterback, Marcus Mariota.
Introducing John Franklin III, a member of the team’s practice squad.
Franklin, a third-year sophomore quarterback, is running the scout team offense to help the Seminoles prepare for Mariota and the high-powered Oregon offense. The two teams meet Jan. 1 in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Rose Bowl.
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Franklin is not a star like Mariota, but like Mariota, he’s fast. In fact, Franklin may have the edge in that area. He clocked a blistering 4.38-second time in the 40 while in high school and is a member of the FSU track team.
FSU sophomore DB Jalen Ramsey told Seminoles.com that Franklin is, “probably the fastest quarterback in the country.”
Franklin takes his role on the scout team seriously. He’s helped the team prepare for running quarterbacks before — Auburn’s Nick Marshall and Georgia Tech’s Justin Thomas. But Mariota, this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, takes that dual-threat ability to another level.
That scenario keeps Franklin motivated in practice.
“Knowing mainly that you’re the guy they’re relying on to get that look, that’s a big role,” Franklin told Seminoles.com. “And you’ve got to accept that as if it’s a big role.
“You may not be on the field playing, but getting the defense ready to stop that (Oregon offense), you’ve got to take that real seriously.”