2024 Football Roster
Jersey Number 4
Zakhari Franklin
- Position:
- WR
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 190
- Major:
- Crop Sciences
- Hometown:
- Dallas, Texas
- High School:
- Cedar Hill
- Prev School:
- UTSA/Mississippi
Pronunciation: zuh-KAR-ee
 2022 Phil Steele All-American Honorable Mention |
 Three-Time All-Conference USA (2020, 2021, 2022) |
2024 Senior
- Entering the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Eighth in FBS history in career receptions (317), tied for 10th in career receiving TDs (41) and 26th in career receiving yards...is just one yard shy of becoming first wide receiver since 2017 to reach 4,000 career receiving yards
- Recorded five catches for 71 yards with a TD reception, the 40th of his collegiate career, vs. Minnesota (11/2/24)
- Caught first TD pass of his Illini career in win vs. Purdue (10/12/24)
- Hauled in nine catches for 99 yards vs. #19 Kansas (9/7/2024)
- College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
- Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Preseason Watch List
- Entered the season as the NCAA's active career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns
- Transferred to Illinois in the Summer 2024 with one year of eligibility remaining
2023 Senior - Mississippi
- Played in four games, with two starts at wide receiver, before redshirting the season
- Four receptions for 38 yards and one touchdown on the season
- Caught lone touchdown for Ole Miss at Auburn (10/21/2023)
- Receptions against Alabama, LSU, and Auburn (2)
2022 Junior - UTSA
- Four-year starter at UTSA and appeared in 46 career games for the Roadrunners
- Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention
- All-Conference USA First Team
- Biletnikoff Award Watch List
- 94 receptions for 1,136 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns on the season
- Broke his own UTSA records for receptions, receiving yards, receiving yards per game, and receiving touchdowns
- Four 100-yard receiving games, totaling 13 100-yard games for his career at UTSA
2021 Sophomore - UTSA
- All-Conference USA First Team
- Set UTSA single-season records for receptions (81), receiving yards (1,027), receiving yards per game (79.0), and touchdown receptions (12)
- Four 100-yard receiving games
- Became the program's career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions
- 10 receptions for career-hgih 155 yards and a touchdown at Illinois (9/4/2021)
2020 Sophomore - UTSA
- All-Conference USA Honorable Mention
- 49 receptions for 649 yards and seven touchdowns on the season
- Four 100-yard receiving games
2019 Freshman - UTSA
- 38 receptions for 491 yards and three touchdowns on the season
- Tied for the team lead in receptions and was second (by one yard) in yards as a true freshman
- First career 100-yard game with 134 receiving yards at Old Dominion (11/9/2019)
High School
- Played for head coach Carlos Lynn at Cedar Hill High School
- All-District 7-6A First Team wide receiver
- 23 receptions for 687 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior, averaging 29.9 yards per catch
- Helped the Longhorns to a 9-2 record and the first round of the state playoffs as a senior
- Also a member of the basketball and track and field teams
Personal
- Born October 15, 2000
- Son of Rod Franklin and Endra Butler
- One brother, Zhandon
- Majoring in crop sciences
- Graduated from Ole Miss with degree in multi-disciplinary studies in August 2024
- Majored in finance at UTSA
Thursday, March 05
Thursday, February 12
Thursday, February 05
Wednesday, January 21
