BRISTOL, Conn. — UTSA seniors Zakhari Franklin and Rashad Wisdom have been named preseason All-Americans by the Pro Football Network, the organization announced Monday.
Franklin was selected to the third team at wide receiver and Wisdom received honorable mention at safety.
Earlier this summer, Franklin was named to the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award. The Cedar Hill High School product is coming off a record-setting season in 2021 in which he helped lead the Roadrunners to a 12-2 record, the C-USA title, the program's first top-25 ranking and to their second straight and third overall bowl game. He smashed UTSA single-season standards for receptions (81), receiving yards (1,027), receiving yards per game (79.0) and receiving touchdowns (12) en route to first-team all-conference and second-team Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College honors.
Franklin also matched his own school mark from 2020 with four 100-yard receiving games last fall, including a season-high 155 yards on 10 grabs in the 37-30 road win over Illinois, to give him a program-best nine for his career. His 2021 campaign vaulted him atop the UTSA all-time charts for receptions (168), receiving yards (2,212) and TD catches (22). He also owns the program's single-game record for receptions with 12, which he turned into 138 yards and a pair of scores versus Army in 2020.
Meanwhile, Wisdom was voted the 2022 C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and the Converse Judson High School product also has landed on preseason watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. Additionally, he was unveiled as a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which honors student-athletes with exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field.
A two-time all-conference performer at safety, Wisdom has paced the Roadrunners in total tackles in each of the past two seasons, helping guide UTSA to 19 wins, a conference championship and a pair of bowl games during that timeframe. A two-time Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College Team selection, he has registered 227 tackles, 158 solo stops, 12 tackles for loss, five interceptions, four forced fumbles, a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery. He has returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns, which is tied for the school record.
Last fall, Wisdom recorded 88 tackles, 67 solo stops, four tackles for loss, six pass breakups and a forced fumble to help lead UTSA to a 12-2 record, the C-USA title, the program's first top-25 ranking and the Frisco Bowl. He logged 10-plus tackles three times, including a season-high 13 in the 52-46 road win over Western Kentucky.
UTSA will open its 12th season of play and third under 2021 C-USA Coach of the Year Jeff Traylor on Sept. 3 against Houston. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Alamodome in a game that will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
Tickets are on sale now by calling or texting 210-458-UTSA (8872) or visiting goUTSA.com.
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