Chris Franklin

Preseason Honors · OVC Preseason Player to Watch (2026) · Phil Steele Preseason All-Conference | Third Team (2026) Played in all 12 games for the Skyhawks at running back…Tallied 89 carries for 450 yards…Rushed for three touchdowns…Averaged 5.1 yards per carry…Set career-highs in carries (18), yards (111) and touchdowns (one) against Tennessee State (Nov. 8)…Rushed for touchdowns against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 18), Tennessee State (Nov. 8) and Charleston Southern (Nov. 15)…Ran for a season-long 66-yard carry against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 18)…Tallied 16 receptions for 96 yards…Averaged 6.0 yards per catch…Notched a season-long 31 receiving yards against Southeast Missouri (Sept. 27)….Returned one kickoff for 15 yards against Tennessee State (Nov. 8). Played in 12 games for the Skyhawks at running back and on special teams…Helped team to fourth consecutive conference title and an appearance in the Division I playoffs…Tallied 18 carries for 103 yards and one touchdown…Averaged 5.7 yards per carry…Best game of the season came against Charleston Southern (Nov. 9) with two carries for 47 yards and one touchdown – breaking free for a 43-yard scamper…Caught one pass for three yards against Western Illinois (Oct. 12). Redshirted…Did not see game action. Franklin prepped at Parkview High School where he played for head coach Brad Bolding…Helped lead his team to a 5A state championship after finishing the season with a 13-2 overall record and a 12-game winning streak…Returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown in the state championship game…Named a 5A-South all-conference honoree. Born on Dec. 18, 2004...Son of Ernest and Charlotte Franklin...Has three siblings, Ernest Jr., Sam and Maralana...Majoring in sociology...His brother, Sam, was an All-American running back for the Skyhawks from 2021-23.