Tampa Bay Buccaneers part ways with pair of former SEC players

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to get their roster down to 85 players by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. And in doing so, they parted ways with a pair of former SEC players.

The Bucs announced that they waived guard Donell Stanley, a former South Carolina offensive lineman, and wide receiver John Franklin III, who spent some of his college days at Auburn. Stanley had missed time at training camp due to injury, while Franklin recently failed a physical.

Stanley spent six seasons with the Gamecocks from 2014-19, playing 50 games and making 38 starts during that time. He didn’t get selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he then signed with the Miami Dolphins. However, he was waived prior to the start of the 2020 season.

In February, Stanley signed with Tampa Bay and went on to participate in team OTAs. But now, he’ll need to look for another new opportunity.

Franklin began his college career at Florida State before transferring to East Mississippi Community College, where he was featured on the popular Netflix series Last Chance U. At that point, Franklin was a quarterback, and he continued to play the position once he transferred to Auburn in 2016.

After one season at Auburn, Franklin finished his college career with Florida Atlantic in 2017. He spent some time on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad in 2018, before the Buccaneers signed him as a defensive back in 2019.

Franklin eventually moved to wide receiver for Tampa Bay, but he’s had only one touch in his NFL career — an 11-yard rush against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 of the 2019 season.

Before Franklin failed his physical, he had been recovering from a left ACL tear that he suffered during training camp last August.

Jake Rill

Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.