ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Troy Franklin wants to be known for more than his speed.

Make no mistake: he's fast. The Oregon product seems to play even faster than his 4.41-second 40-yard dash speed would suggest, and his game-changing ability was on display Monday at Broncos training camp practice.

In seven-on-seven action, Franklin sprinted off the line and faked as if he were running an outbreaking route. He then turned upfield and turned on the afterburners. As Zach Wilson's 50-yard throw settled into his arms for a touchdown, the nearest defender was several yards behind him.

As Head Coach Sean Payton said Monday, you can "feel his speed."

The touchdown grab was Franklin's first big snag of camp, but it was hardly the first time he's put himself in position to make a play. In previous seven-on-seven work, Franklin created separation to give himself a chance at another end-zone grab. Franklin has also run away from defenders on deeps shots that have just missed being big completions.

Over the last two seasons at Oregon, Franklin was no stranger to making that sort of impact play. As a sophomore for the Ducks, Franklin began to break out and caught 61 passes for 891 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 14.6 yards per catch. A season ago, he was even better. In his final season in Eugene, Franklin delivered a school single-season record 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 17.1 yards per reception on 81 catches. The Broncos traded up to select Franklin with the 102nd-overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, which reunited Franklin with his college quarterback in Bo NIx.

As Franklin works through his first training camp, though, he said he wants to be known just as much for his route running as for his seemingly effortless speed.

"I take a lot of pride in [route running]," Franklin told DenverBroncos.com on Friday. "It just helps my game even more, being a technician and then having the speed. Those are two lethal combos. Right now, I'm just trying to make sure my technique's down and [that] I'm not just using my speed to my advantage."

Franklin said he's also honed in on his run-blocking ability and his knowledge of the offense, and he said he's continually working to take coaching tips and apply them to his game.

"I think I've shown a lot of things — a lot of different things — but I just have to be more consistent with it," Franklin said.

Pass Game Coordinator John Morton is "the main guy" that Franklin said he's trying to learn from, and the young wide receiver said Morton has been helpful during the initial stages of Franklin's first training camp.

"The biggest adjustment is just taking the coaching and applying it to the game," Franklin said.

If there's something as noticeable to Franklin's teammates as his speed, it may be his work ethic. Running back Jaleel McLaughlin, well known in his own right for arriving early and staying late, said Franklin has impressed him with the way he's worked to prepare for his current opportunity.

"He's a great dude," McLaughlin said. "One of the hardest workers I've seen. He listens to every single thing anybody has to say to him. Me and him kind of hit it home on day one. Anybody that works hard like that, listens, focuses and is locked in is going to be successful in anything that they do. I'm excited to see what Troy does this year, and I think he's going to be a great piece to this offense."

In the weeks between the offseason program and his first training camp, Franklin directed that work ethic and focus toward knowing the playbook — and it has seemingly paid dividends in the early days of training camp.

"He's doing well," Payton said Monday. "He picks things up well. We all see his speed, and we feel his speed. Like the rest of the rookies, [they] have these glimpses or these moments where they are gaining confidence. He had a nice play today, and he's doing well."

Franklin acknowledged the intricacies of an offense that features a number of different personnel groupings, and he said the team's training camp walkthroughs have been critical for him as he learns the system.

"Getting all those extra reps in and learning the offense, … it helps," Franklin said.

As he learns the Broncos' offense, Franklin has also taken the time to watch a division rival in recent months. After Franklin's first few practices during OTAs, quarterback Jarrett Stidham suggested Franklin watch clips of Las Vegas' Jakobi Meyers to gain route-running tips.

Meyers and Stidham were teammates for several seasons in New England, and the receiver posted a career-high 83 catches for 866 yards during their final year together with the Patriots.

"I had a couple of plays [where] he just said I kind of remind him of him and just to watch a little bit of his film just to see how he's running his routes and things like that," Franklin said.

Franklin said being around veteran receiver Courtland Sutton has also been "a good thing" for him, and he expressed his gratitude that he joined a receiver group that's willing to tutor young players.

"Everybody's helping the rooks, everybody's helping each other," Franklin said. "We're good with all that."

Franklin will soon aim to put his skill set on display in preseason action, and he said playing his first game with the team will be a "dream come true." Mostly, though, the rookie wide receiver is eager to prove what he can do at the next level. With 16 receivers taken ahead of him in the 2024 NFL Draft, Franklin said he's motivated by his draft position and knows he has "something to prove."

On Sunday against the Colts, he'll get that chance — whether it's via his speed, route running or blocking.

"I can't wait to get out there and show what I can do," Franklin said.