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After Belleville took a 38-7 beating from Clarkston in the Tigers' 2025 opener, receiver Charles Britton III wasted no time texting quarterback Kendall Franklin.
"We've still got the rest of the season, so let's keep on going," the three-star receiving prospect recalled on July 21 at North Farmington High School.
Franklin had been handed an almost impossible job.
Not only was he replacing former state champion Bryce Underwood, a five-star prospect and arguably the greatest QB recruit in Michigan history, but he was doing it with an inexperienced roster. The Tigers returned only three starters; Britton, one of Underwood's favorite targets the previous season, was the lone returner on offense.
MIDTOWN SHOWDOWN: Prep Kickoff Classic: Breaking down 4 marquee MHSAA football matchups
Had Franklin not connected with Geonte Morris for a 33-yard touchdown in the final minute of the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic, Belleville would've been shut out for the first time in nine seasons.
Although the score came in garbage time, it gave Franklin the confidence he needed to finish the season strong and fueled his offseason training.
"For him to navigate that and replace the biggest shoes known to man in Bryce Underwood while leading the youngest football team Belleville's had since [former coach Jermain] Crowell's first year, that says a lot," offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers said. "He was able to figure it out fast, rally this team, be a leader and take us on a seven-game winning streak to put us in the KLAA championship and get us in the playoffs."
That's exactly what Franklin, who holds six FBS-level offers – including one from defending national champion Indiana – did as a junior.
He completed 123 of 168 passes for 1,873 yards and 25 TDs while leading the Tigers to their eighth consecutive KLAA East Division championship and a 7-3 record.
He threw only one interception in 10 games.
Now, Franklin and his senior teammates enter the season with a year of experience, the sting of falling short and the motivation to make Belleville a state power again.
"Last year, we replaced the entire football team, so Kendall, along with a lot of our other players, were all brand new," coach Calvin Norman said. "Tre [Britton] was our only player with real high school experience, so what I've seen from last year to this year has been nothing but more growth and a whole lot of urgency to compete and get better. For this year's group of seniors, it's their opportunity to put us back on the map."
Offensive success should start with the Franklin-Britton connection.
The two have been teammates since kindergarten flag football. Last season alone, 981 of Britton's 1,459 all-purpose yards came from Franklin.
"Because I've known him from such a young age, we've just got that bond, that chemistry from going from elementary to middle school to high school together," said Franklin, who is 6 feet 1 and 195 pounds. "He's got the hands and playmaking ability, and the thing about Tre is he's always had that since he was young. He's just a hard worker and trains night in, night out and every weekend."
Britton needed that work ethic. Otherwise, he likely would've waited until his junior season to make an impact.
As a sophomore, he landed in a loaded receiver room that featured four-star safety Elijah Dotson, who’s now at Missouri, three-star Miami (Ohio) recruits Adrian Walker Jr. and Antwon Thomas and Ferris State two-star Marquis Peoples Jr.
Britton spent hours working on his route running and texting Underwood to join throwing sessions.
MASS EXODUS: Why Michigan's top hoops prospects are leaving for prep schools
The results followed.
Britton had a breakout sophomore season. He finished with 39 catches for 803 yards and three TDs from Underwood, putting himself on the map as one of the top receivers in the country.
Rated the No. 13 overall 2027 recruit in Michigan by 247Sports, Britton entered this offseason with 35 offers. After visiting Michigan and Missouri earlier this summer, he committed to Mizzou on June 30.
"Once I got a couple of seven-on-sevens under my belt before my sophomore year, I knew it was going to be possible [to get playing time]," Britton said. "Playing against Harper Woods, I made a big play, and from there, I just jumped onto the scene. It was overwhelming at first, but I understood I could make plays for my team when they needed me the most."
That has been the theme for the Tigers.
From Britton earning playing time as a sophomore to Franklin and the rest of Belleville's new starters getting thrown into varsity football last season, the only way to learn how to play at that level is to experience it firsthand and build from it.
Those experiences are what build championship teams and future college players.
Britton went from a young receiver in a loaded room to the No. 2-rated senior receiver in Michigan behind five-star Oregon commit Dakota Guerrant of Harper Woods.
Franklin went from a rough debut against Clarkston to having Belleville now believe it can compete for its first state championship since Underwood led the Tigers to back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.
When you get knocked down, it's about how you respond.
Right now, Belleville is answering that adversity and ready for its opener on Aug. 27 at Grand Blanc.
"I'm really proud of the team and Kendall for how we responded after getting battle-tested and smacked in the mouth right away last year," Britton said. "Kendall's a tough kid, and he takes a lot of criticism. A lot of people told him he couldn't play quarterback when he got to Belleville, but as you can see now, the growth he's had has been amazing, and he's one of the best quarterbacks in the state. He's come a long way since we were little kids."
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Follow him on X at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MHSAA football Why Belleville can get 'back on the map' in 2026
Continue reading...
"We've still got the rest of the season, so let's keep on going," the three-star receiving prospect recalled on July 21 at North Farmington High School.
Franklin had been handed an almost impossible job.
Not only was he replacing former state champion Bryce Underwood, a five-star prospect and arguably the greatest QB recruit in Michigan history, but he was doing it with an inexperienced roster. The Tigers returned only three starters; Britton, one of Underwood's favorite targets the previous season, was the lone returner on offense.
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MIDTOWN SHOWDOWN: Prep Kickoff Classic: Breaking down 4 marquee MHSAA football matchups
Had Franklin not connected with Geonte Morris for a 33-yard touchdown in the final minute of the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic, Belleville would've been shut out for the first time in nine seasons.
Although the score came in garbage time, it gave Franklin the confidence he needed to finish the season strong and fueled his offseason training.
"For him to navigate that and replace the biggest shoes known to man in Bryce Underwood while leading the youngest football team Belleville's had since [former coach Jermain] Crowell's first year, that says a lot," offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers said. "He was able to figure it out fast, rally this team, be a leader and take us on a seven-game winning streak to put us in the KLAA championship and get us in the playoffs."
That's exactly what Franklin, who holds six FBS-level offers – including one from defending national champion Indiana – did as a junior.
He completed 123 of 168 passes for 1,873 yards and 25 TDs while leading the Tigers to their eighth consecutive KLAA East Division championship and a 7-3 record.
He threw only one interception in 10 games.
Now, Franklin and his senior teammates enter the season with a year of experience, the sting of falling short and the motivation to make Belleville a state power again.
"Last year, we replaced the entire football team, so Kendall, along with a lot of our other players, were all brand new," coach Calvin Norman said. "Tre [Britton] was our only player with real high school experience, so what I've seen from last year to this year has been nothing but more growth and a whole lot of urgency to compete and get better. For this year's group of seniors, it's their opportunity to put us back on the map."
Offensive success should start with the Franklin-Britton connection.
You must be registered for see images attach
The two have been teammates since kindergarten flag football. Last season alone, 981 of Britton's 1,459 all-purpose yards came from Franklin.
"Because I've known him from such a young age, we've just got that bond, that chemistry from going from elementary to middle school to high school together," said Franklin, who is 6 feet 1 and 195 pounds. "He's got the hands and playmaking ability, and the thing about Tre is he's always had that since he was young. He's just a hard worker and trains night in, night out and every weekend."
Britton needed that work ethic. Otherwise, he likely would've waited until his junior season to make an impact.
As a sophomore, he landed in a loaded receiver room that featured four-star safety Elijah Dotson, who’s now at Missouri, three-star Miami (Ohio) recruits Adrian Walker Jr. and Antwon Thomas and Ferris State two-star Marquis Peoples Jr.
Britton spent hours working on his route running and texting Underwood to join throwing sessions.
You must be registered for see images attach
MASS EXODUS: Why Michigan's top hoops prospects are leaving for prep schools
The results followed.
Britton had a breakout sophomore season. He finished with 39 catches for 803 yards and three TDs from Underwood, putting himself on the map as one of the top receivers in the country.
Rated the No. 13 overall 2027 recruit in Michigan by 247Sports, Britton entered this offseason with 35 offers. After visiting Michigan and Missouri earlier this summer, he committed to Mizzou on June 30.
"Once I got a couple of seven-on-sevens under my belt before my sophomore year, I knew it was going to be possible [to get playing time]," Britton said. "Playing against Harper Woods, I made a big play, and from there, I just jumped onto the scene. It was overwhelming at first, but I understood I could make plays for my team when they needed me the most."
That has been the theme for the Tigers.
From Britton earning playing time as a sophomore to Franklin and the rest of Belleville's new starters getting thrown into varsity football last season, the only way to learn how to play at that level is to experience it firsthand and build from it.
Those experiences are what build championship teams and future college players.
You must be registered for see images attach
Britton went from a young receiver in a loaded room to the No. 2-rated senior receiver in Michigan behind five-star Oregon commit Dakota Guerrant of Harper Woods.
Franklin went from a rough debut against Clarkston to having Belleville now believe it can compete for its first state championship since Underwood led the Tigers to back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.
When you get knocked down, it's about how you respond.
Right now, Belleville is answering that adversity and ready for its opener on Aug. 27 at Grand Blanc.
"I'm really proud of the team and Kendall for how we responded after getting battle-tested and smacked in the mouth right away last year," Britton said. "Kendall's a tough kid, and he takes a lot of criticism. A lot of people told him he couldn't play quarterback when he got to Belleville, but as you can see now, the growth he's had has been amazing, and he's one of the best quarterbacks in the state. He's come a long way since we were little kids."
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Follow him on X at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MHSAA football Why Belleville can get 'back on the map' in 2026
Continue reading...
