Gamecocks offer or not, in-state quarterback having spectacular senior season
If the University of South Carolina or any other college football team was on the fence about offering Prometheus Franklin a scholarship, they should watch Friday’s game film against A.C. Flora, Greenville High coach Greg Porter says.
The Greenville senior quarterback arguably had his best game of the season in the 27-26 win over the Falcons at Memorial Stadium in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. Franklin threw for a season-high 361 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner to Tyler Brown with 28 seconds left.
Franklin also showed he could take the hits from a relentless Flora defense and was on the turf for a bit after throwing the game-winning score.
“I hope tonight, whether USC was ever doubting whether he was a Gamecock or not, you see a kid with resiliency that is going to work hard,” Porter said.
Franklin has made no secret of his desire to play for the Gamecocks. He had a USC wristband on his left arm during Friday’s game that was played less than two miles from the edge of South Carolina’s campus. He has visited the school four times and likely will take another trip for the Clemson game.
The Gamecocks haven’t offered yet. USC offered Franklin’s teammate, sophomore receiver Mazeo Bennett, who had four catches for 136 yards and a TD on Friday.
Franklin threw in front of USC offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield at a camp June 19, and the Gamecock coaches have remained in touch.
“They tell me to keep playing hard, keep making big plays and time will take care of everything,” Franklin said Friday night of the Gamecocks’ recruiting. “They are really waiting to see how the Class of 2022 develops and to see who transfers in the portal and all that.
“I am waiting, but I can’t let big moments past me for an even bigger moment. I’ve got to take where God blessed me to go, and if I go to another college, if it happens it happens.”
The 6-foot-3 Franklin likes what Shane Beamer has done in his first season and the momentum the program has after last week’s win against Florida. USC plays at Missouri on Saturday.
“They have players trying to turn the program around and got a coach that wants to make the statement that they can compete with the best,” Franklin said. “They did it last week against Florida and hopefully going into the Missouri game, they can show what they got.”
South Carolina has one quarterback commit for 2022 in Delaware’s Braden Davis. It remains to be seen if they will take another quarterback in the class. The Gamecocks have three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster with eligibility left in Luke Doty, Jason Brown and Colten Gauthier.
Franklin has offers and interest from Marshall, Eastern Kentucky, Delaware State, South Carolina State and Charlotte. S.C. State coaches were at Friday’s game and he took an unofficial visit to Memphis in July.
247Sports ranks Franklin as the 43rd-best prospect in state for Class of 2022. He has thrown for 2,956 yards this season and 33 touchdowns after Friday’s season-best performance.
