‘Last Chance U’ QB John Franklin III transferring again, this time from Auburn

He’s destined for a fourth college team.

Auburn receiver John Franklin III is transferring from the program, Tigers coach Gus Malzahn announced Tuesday. Franklin was previously a quarterback at Florida State and then East Mississippi Community College, where he starred in the first season of the Netflix reality drama Last Chance U. He’s one of a handful of EMCC products from that season who are now transferring from the schools they landed at afterward.

Franklin played in sub packages and got occasional QB work for Auburn last season, when he threw 26 passes. But he never stuck at the position, and he was out wide by the time Auburn convened for spring ball in March. In the announcement that Franklin would transfer, Malzahn cited a desire to play more and be closer to home. Franklin is from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Franklin graduated from Auburn this year, so he’s eligible to play immediately wherever he lands. That could require some team to have a scholarship open and be willing to add a new player two weeks before the season, which seems like a hard situation to find. Wherever he goes next will be a fourth school in five or six years for Franklin.

Franklin didn’t sound like he wanted to transfer, as of earlier this month. Via AL.com:

"Transferring is a tough process and to be bouncing around from school to school, that's the last thing I wanted to do, to be honest," Franklin said after receiving his Bachelor's degree on Aug. 5. "Transferring was the last option because it takes a lot out of you. This is my third school and trying to make it a fourth? Four schools in five years doesn't look good for anybody.

"Transferring wasn't really an option. I had to figure out what I was going to do for this last year and me, coach (Gus) Malzahn and (offensive coordinator Chip) Lindsey sat down and came up with a plan. It's working out for the best right now."

Other show subjects to transfer or leave their post-EMCC homes:

• Season 1 defensive lineman Ronald Ollie, who recently announced he’d transfer from Nicholls State.
• Season 1 and 2 running back Isaiah Wright, who’d enrolled at West Carolina but has left in advance of his first season there.

Here’s a full accounting of where the players in the Netflix show have landed.