Preseason All-Big South Conference selection by the league’s head coaches and media … Also named preseason All-Big South by Phil Steele Football … Returning starter in the slot … Very quick and reliable receiver … Second-leading returner among Big South members for the 2022 season in yards per catch (15.2) … Strong route runner … Has shown a knack for making big plays in key moments ... Will wear jersey No. 1 this season.

2022 at Gardner-Webb: Named Preseason All-Big South by the league's head coaches and media ... Selected All-Big South in the preseason as well by Phil Steele Football ... Suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener against Limestone (9/1) ... Redshirted the season ... Caught three passes during the game for 71 yards ... Had a season-long 46 yard reception during the contest ... Went for a nine-yard rush in it.

2021 at Gardner-Webb: Started nine games in the slot and played in all 11 as a true freshman … Caught 37 passes for 562 yards and four touchdowns … Completed a pair of passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns … Led GWU in receiving yards … Named Big South Freshman of the Week after catching six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, and passing for a 50-yard score at Georgia Southern (9/4) … Had seven catches for 93 yards at No. 10 Kennesaw State (10/30) … Caught at least one pass in all 11 games … Also had touchdown catches vs. Robert Morris (10/23) and Charleston Southern (11/13) … Had three catches for 57 yards and two scores in the Charleston Southern game … Had a 76-yard touchdown pass in the win at North Carolina A&T (11/20) … Had a 24-yard run at Kennesaw State (10/30).

High School: Played at Douglas County (Ga.) High under Coach Johnny White … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds … One of the most electric players in the Peach State for the Class of 2021 … Rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com … Considered one of the top-75 senior prospects in Georgia … Collected more than 20 Division I scholarship offers, including 19 FBS offers … Rated as the No. 62 prospect nationally in the athlete category by 247Sports.com … Named to the 2021 Sports Illustrated All-America Watch List … Caught 50 passes for 800 yards as a senior … Managed more than 1,100 all-purpose yards … An honorable mention Class 6A All-State selection by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution … Named Region 5-AAAAAA Athlete of the Year … Also contributed 53 total tackles, eight pass break ups and two interceptions as a defensive back … Played quarterback as a junior and passed for 573 yards and five scores … Ran for 858 yards and nine touchdowns … Had a season-high 181 yards and two scores vs. New Manchester (Ga.) High … Picked off two passes, broke up six and posted 30 total tackles defensively … Chose Gardner-Webb after considering offers from Akron, Charlotte, Duke, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Kansas, Kent State, Liberty, UMass, Minnesota, Navy, Coastal Carolina, South Alabama, Troy, UAB, Western Kentucky, Boston College and Louisville.

Justin Franklin