Georgia speedster commits to Troy

By Drew Champlin

Published: July 31, 2009

The hits just keep coming.

Valdosta, Ga., athlete Khary Franklin recently committed to Troy, bringing the Trojans’ 2010 verbal commit total to 12.

“They win games and win championships,“ Franklin said. “I want to go to a school where I can win. It’s close to home (three hours), I like the coaches and I think the offense fits me.“

Franklin is 5-foot-7 and 165 pounds and has played quarterback the last two years for Lowndes High School, but will play running back this year. He said Troy coaches say he could line up in the backfield or as a receiver. Frankin said he ran a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash with electronic timing and has been hand-timed at 4.34. ESPN has him graded at 74 and rivals.com has him listed as a 3-star athlete.

A number of schools have recruited Franklin. He listed Arkansas State, Louisville, Georgia Tech, FAU, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky as the main ones, but also said Georgia, Tennessee and Florida were showing interest. Franklin took a visit to Troy a couple of weeks ago and committed. Not long after that, Florida called wanting him to go to its Friday Night Lights camp.

He said no.

“I was already committed to Troy,“ Franklin said. “I love the school and it’s close to home. I feel like recruiting’s done for me, so I’m ready to come in and I feel like I can be an impact player.“

2010 Troy commitments
High School
Luke Barnes (QB, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.)
Khary Franklin (WR/ATH, Valdosta, Ga.)
Dalton Bennett (OL, Marianna, Fla.)
Tommy Stephens (DL, Marianna, Fla.)
Dantavious Jeffery. (DE, Douglasville, Ga.)
Brach Bessant, (LB, Lake City, Fla.)
Joe Lofton, (DB, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.)
JUCO
Greg Jenkins, (QB, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Brett Moncrief, (WR, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Teavis Durgin (OL, Coffeyville CC, Kan.)
Talris Brown (LB, Coffeyville CC, Kan.)
Aaron Ward (DB, Hutchinson CC, Kan.)