Both of the quarterbacks who saw the majority of the snaps in 2023 return: sophomore Jah'naad Cady -- who threw four touchdown passes as a freshman -- and junior John Archer.
"We started a freshman quarterback last year, and we knew we were going to take our lumps," Franklin head coach Blair Wilson said. "But we knew in the long run he was gonna be able to perform, and he's been having a heck of a summer."
Junior back Dubem Kawah is the top returning rusher (besides Cady) from last year's team, but head coach Blair Wilson employed a bevy of backs to carry the ball, and that approach may continue this season.
If it does, Franklin has an experienced group of blockers for them to run behind on the offensive line. Jeffrey Shea, Frankie Flores, Miles Muldrow, Ethan Villa and Michael Gabryszewski are up front to help make the running game go.
"Our line this season is going to be the heart and soul of our team," Wilson said.
Gabryszewski, at end, and Chris Mahaley at tackle are returning starters on the Warriors' defensive line. Amir Glover and Alhaki Kallon are returning starters in the secondary. Glover intercepted three passes in 2023.
"It's all about building," Wilson said. "I came in here two years ago and basically said I was not going to rebuild, I was going to remodel this program, because if we rebuild it, that means we tear down all the history from when I played at Franklin and other people I know played at Franklin. We're gonna remodel this thing, get new furniture, paint the walls.
"It's a culture. Our first year, we went 0-8. We took a lot of lumps (that year), played a lot of freshmen and sophomores, so now, they're grown up, they're seniors and juniors."
Wilson said that the signs over the summer were promising.
"On the 7-on-7 circuit, we really did well," Wilson said. "The kids could see that the improvement. The kids aer walking on the field with a different swagger (and) confidence, and it's all due to them being in the weight room in the off-season, them studying in the off-season and going on the road in the off-season and playing different competition. These guys have dedicated themselves to the weight room, dedicated themselves to the film room."
FRANKLIN 2024 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
08-30 Trenton 09-06 @ Passaic 09-14 East Brunswick 09-20 @ St. Thomas Aquinas 09-27 Edison 10-04 Plainfield 10-11 @ Sayreville 10-18 @ Monroe 10-25 North Brunswick
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