OF | 6'0" | Hermitage, Tenn. | McGavock

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Trevecca baseball coach Jonathan Burton is pleased to announce the signing of Zachary Franklin from McGavock (Nashville) High School.

Franklin, a 6'0" center fielder from Hermitage, Tenn., has been a multi-sport star for the Raiders in football, track, and baseball. He was named McGavock's most athletic male student. It is worth noting that McGavock's most athletic female is Trevecca women's basketball signee Annissa Ragland.

Coach Burton knows he's getting a player that already has one coveted tool, "We are excited to sign a player of Zach's potential that can help us in many different areas. There is no question he is one of the most talented baseball players in the MidState. His upside is tremendous and I know he is a great fit for our program and university. Zach has one thing you can't teach and that's speed, everything else is capable of developing into an everyday player for us sooner rather than later."    

In his senior season Franklin played for first-year McGavock coach Rob Brown and produced a .489 batting average with two doubles, seven triples and was successful on 42 of 43 stolen base attempts. He had a .565 on base percentage and had a .667 slugging percentage.  

As a junior (2008) he was named to the All-Region Team, TBCA All-State Second Team, Tennessee Baseball Report All-State First Team, and played in the TBCA Showcase. In 2008 he posted a .530 batting average (sixth best in the state) with 39 runs scored, five doubles, five triples, 25 RBI, and 37 stolen bases. He was only caught stealing twice as a junior.  

Rob Brown, the head baseball coach at McGavock sees Franklin's best days on the diamond ahead of him, "Zach Franklin is an outstanding young man with a great work ethic and has a bright future. He understands what he has to do to continue to be successful and in my opinion he is working very hard towards accomplishing these goals. Zach is driven to be successful. He is reliable and knows what is expected and trys to exceed those expectations. He is one of the finest young men that I have coached or taught."

"He has displayed great leadership skills on and off the baseball field and has been a positive influence on our younger players."

Franklin's accomplishments on the football field are just as impressive. On the football field he played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, safety, and was the return man in the kicking game.   

The 2008 Hume Award Nominee has been named All-State Third Team, All-MidState, All-Region twice, All-Metro twice, and WUXP Player of the Week twice (Sept. 25, 2008, Sept. 30, 2008). Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher awarded him the Beaman Buick Pontiac GMC High School Player of the Week Award during Fisher's weekly TV program on News2 after scoring four touchdowns in McGavock's 28-21 win at La Vergne.

As a senior he scored 10 touchdowns and piled up numerous offensive, defensive, and return game statistics.

As a junior and senior Franklin was apart of the Alignment Nashville Leadership program, a leadership and community service program that puts high school kids in elementary schools and nursing homes mentoring, tutoring and ministering.

Franklin has as 3.3 GPA and is interested in Trevecca's Education program. He made the principal list during all grading periods in the 2007-2008 school year and the first two grading periods of this school year. He made the A/B Honor Roll in the last two grading period for the 2008-2009 school year.