John Franklin, Blake High School, 2013 DE/LB
5’ 11” 203 lbs
Short Shuttle: 4.85
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Growing up – he was a trouble maker. He was kicked out of his middle school in sixth grade. Every day was a struggle. There were fights, almost every day. He became associated with gangs; but one simple decision, one simple game, changed his life.
John Franklin enrolled at Blake High School. He told his father and step father he wanted to play football.
“I was a follower before I got to high school,” Franklin said. “In eighth grade I got in trouble and I saw my mom cry. That was the end of everything; I knew I had to change. It’s the worst feeling in life to see your mom cry and I told myself that I really need to change.”
His father and step father joked that he was too much of a pretty boy to play football, but Franklin was determined to “make something of himself.”
His freshman year at Blake High School he made the honor in back-to-back semester. Once enrolled and attending Blake, the 5-foot 11-inch defensive end/linebacker rededicated himself to God and focused on his education.
Since his freshman year, Franklin says he has gotten A’s and B’s each semester.
“My mom, father and step father always pushed me and told me that if you want to go somewhere then you have to change what you’re doing in life,” Franklin explained. “You have to get closer to God. Now that I’m with God me and my whole spirit in life has changed.”
Franklin had never touched a football when he enrolled at Blake. His feet had never walked across the green grass of a football field. Immediately, though he felt welcomed by the Yellow Jackets.
“When my step dad told Coach Harry Hubbard that I had never played football before he told us ‘Oh don’t worry about that we’re going to get him straight and get him back on the right path,’” Franklin said.
Hubbard and the Blake administration knew about Franklin’s past troubles. Collectively they would not allow him to slack off.
Franklin spoke highly of Athletic Director Jesse Salters and Principal Jacqueline Haynes, among other administrators at Blake. He is extremely respectful, a trait he says his mother is most responsible for.
As a freshman Franklin saw time on the junior varsity team. He played center and tackle on the offensive line. He didn’t know why he was playing offensive line. He says, with a laugh, that he thought offensive lineman were supposed to be fat. It wasn’t until an assistant coach explained to him that he was on the line to become more physical that he felt comfortable there.
“The coaches pounded it in my head that I was going to be a physical player,” Franklin said.
His sophomore season started the same – he was a center and an offensive tackle on the JV team. There was an added challenge though; playing on both sides of the ball as a defensive tackle and defensive end.
“Coach Thomas saw that I was getting more physical so he started playing me on defense more,” Franklin said.
He had to get more physical. He was facing players like Michael McFarland (USF TE) daily in practice.
“He really pushed me to get bigger, faster, stronger,” Franklin said. “And I wanted to get better – that’s why I chose to go against them big guys.”
Franklin debuted in impressive fashion at the varsity level. He made three sacks and had eight tackles in the Yellow Jackets’ spring game as a junior. He continued to grow; he continued to get better.
He turned in an impressive season playing defensive end showing plus quickness and has a firm grasp on how to use his hands to his advantage.
At 5-11 203 pounds Franklin projects as a linebacker. He is a sure tackler, has quick closing speed and plus acceleration. He says he hopes to play linebacker next year, but will do whatever he can to help get Blake ‘back on the map.’
Especially with a new incoming head coach Franklin (a 2012 projected captain) will play a vital role in turning the Yellow Jackets around.
John Franklin’s hope is to play college football. He doesn’t care where; he just wants to opportunity to continue his education. “I want to achieve something in life. I don’t want me, or my kids in the future, to be on the street.”
He would love to play at Florida International University where he says he has visited and really enjoyed the campus. He wants to be a lawyer – the Law program thrives at FIU.
Most of all Franklin wants to be a leader, encouraging current Blake football players to follow his lead in getting good grades first off, as well as improving as a football team.
Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleBennettUT