Zachary Franks

Before Massachusetts • Joins UMass after spending the 2024 season at Duke as a graduate transfer, having previously played at Northwestern from 2019-23 • Did not appear in a game in 2024 • At Northwestern, played in 18 games while making two starts and also took part in the 2020 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and the 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl • Helped Northwestern to an 8-5 record in 2023 and a 14-7 victory over Utah in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl • Made his first career start against Rutgers in 2023 • Graduated from Northwestern in June 2023, with a degree in learning and organizational change and added a master's degree in management in June 2024 • Prior to Northwestern, attended The Gilman School • A three-star prospect by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com • Ranked as the No. 14, No. 15, and No. 20 prospect from the state of Maryland by Rivals.com, 247Sports.com and ESPN.com, respectively • A four-year letterwinner, he earned All-MIAA and All-Metro Baltimore City honors • The son of David and Kimberley Franks, his father was a three-year football letterwinner at UConn (1985, 1987–88), earning Honorable Mention All-American and All-Yankee Conference honors in 1988 before being selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the ninth round of the 1989 NFL Draft (238th overall)