BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. — Although Jaylan Franklin and Preston Zachman grew up miles apart – Franklin in Brownstown, Michigan (25 minutes from Detroit) and Zachman in Elysburg, Pennsylvania (90 minutes from the Penn State campus in State College) – they have much in common.

Both played all over the field in high school, including quarterback. Both were recruited with that versatility in mind; the projection being that they could play on either side of the ball in college. Both have already changed positions and their jersey number at Wisconsin.

Franklin, 21, a redshirt junior, and Zachman, 19, a redshirt freshman, are both now competing in training camp to get on the field during the 2021 season. Whether that's on special teams, a safe bet for both. Or whether that's in the playing rotation: Franklin at tight end and Zachman at safety.

On Wednesday, Franklin and Zachman crossed paths in the secondary. Both tumbled to the ground tracking an errant throw in a passing drill. Both also made plays during the practice. Zachman got a good break on the ball and broke up a pass. Franklin scored twice in a red zone sequence.

"It's definitely great to be able to go out there and show what I can do," Franklin said afterwards. "It feels good to gain that confidence back in myself and show my peers what I can do. I'm excited for what's next. I've just got to keep it up and keep being consistent."

Possessing a similar mindset, Zachman said, "My offseason goal was to stay healthy and get stronger and faster and learn the playbook a little more and be really confident when the fall comes. Right now, I just feel settled and comfortable with everything."

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At Carlson High School (Gibraltar, Michigan), Franklin rarely came out of games. He played quarterback, receiver, linebacker and safety. When he got to Wisconsin, he traded his prep jersey No. 2 for No. 42. The Badgers felt like Franklin was best suited athletically for tight end or outside linebacker.

After redshirting in 2018, Franklin made his collegiate debut at OLB in the 2019 season opener, a 49-0 rout of South Florida. At the end of the third quarter, Franklin sacked quarterback Blake Barnett for a loss of eight yards. In the fourth quarter, he got another sack. But it was erased due to a penalty.

Franklin appeared in all 14 games for the Badgers but registered only one more tackle. That was one more than he had in the COVID-truncated 2020 season. Franklin played on special teams in just a handful of games. His lone highlight was blocking a punt against Wake Forest in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.

"COVID definitely hit hard, especially for me," said the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Franklin. "It was hard not being on the field with the guys after all the work you put in. I had time to think and reflect. But switching positions was probably one of the best things that happened to me."

Since moving from defense, the Badgers have experimented with Franklin at wide receiver and tight end. Franklin believes he has found a home at the latter. During the offseason, he switched from No. 42 to No. 81 out of respect to a former UW teammate, Taj Mustapha, who transferred to Kent State.

"I definitely think it fits me a little better than 42," said Franklin, who suggested that wearing No. 81 was also a tribute to Troy Fumagalli, a senior headliner at tight end for the Badgers when Franklin verbally committed to the program in 2017. "He was definitely an inspiration."

What's in a number? Franklin responded, "I like to use mine as a tribute – something that allows me to express myself on the field. I'm not really a talker or anything like that. I just kind of let my play and appearance show how I'm feeling. The number was a change, and it allows my mindset to change."

Coming into training camp, Franklin said, "It's really a new feeling for me."

The Badgers have numbers at tight end topped by an All-America candidate in Jake Ferguson. Hayden Rucci has proved to be a reliable run blocker. Jack Eschenbach had a solid spring as a complementary piece to Ferguson. Clay Cundiff, Cam Large and Franklin are fighting for roles.

"I'm happy to be learning from one of the best in Ferg – that's where I am right now," Franklin said of his development. "He's holding the reins for all of us, leading by example, just with the detail that he's taking and the amount of focus that he has. Ferg is at the top of the peak."

Franklin knows that he has to tighten up his blocking and improve his consistency.

"But," he said, "I feel this is the most confident I've ever been in in myself and the team."

Zachman can relate to that feeling.

"I don't feel like the new freshman," he said. "Nervous with things and uncomfortable."

One of the few position moves that the Badgers made during spring practice was to switch Zachman from inside linebacker to safety. As a result, he changed from No. 43 to No. 14, which was the jersey number that he wore at Southern Columbia High School in Catawissa, Pennsylvania.

"I just felt the change of position was best for me and my skill set and my body," said the 6-1, 213-pound Zachman. "I actually got recruited at a lot of different positions, almost every offensive position except the line. On defense, it was inside linebacker, outside linebacker and safety."

As a prep, Zachman played quarterback, wide receiver, fullback, tight end, linebacker and cornerback. He scored touchdowns in five different ways – passing, receiving and rushing to go along with a couple of fumble returns and pass interceptions. His versatility attracted recruiters.

"I wasn't surprised I had to change positions or anything like that because I was recruited at so many different positions," he said. "I had a couple of talks with Coach (Paul) Chryst and we felt that safety was probably the best spot for me to be at.

"Learning the playbook my whole freshman year obviously helped, too, because a lot of the stuff is similar. I'd say the biggest adjustment is to the footwork. Linebacker is more about being physical. But defensive back you've got to have your feet right."

Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has no qualms about using all of his personnel, a concept that keeps everybody fresh and ready. Scott Nelson and Collin Wilder are the starting safeties with John Torchio, Tyler Mais, Travian Blaylock, Zachman and freshman Hunter Wohler battling for reps.

That Leonhard played safety for 10 years in the NFL is a bonus to this position group.

"It's obviously helped that he has played there," Zachman said of Leonhard, who was also an All-America safety for the Badgers. "But he's also just a mastermind with the playbook. Just meeting with him, one on one, all the time, he was really able to help me make the transition to safety."

When the Badgers open the season Sept. 4, there's a strong likelihood that Franklin and Zachman will be contributing on special teams; if nothing else, a starting point and first step. Both are also intent on becoming a factor in their rotations at tight end and safety, respectively.

"Special teams are how I got on the field to start my redshirt freshman year when we went to the Rose Bowl," Franklin pointed out. "I'm definitely trying to make an impact. It has been a journey so far. But I just have to work on being consistent and I just have to keep showing up in practices."

Zachman can relate to that feeling, too. Both showed up Wednesday.