Blue White Illustrated

B orn and raised near Arlington, Texas, Brailyn Franklin moved to Haymar- ket, Va., just over one and a half years ago. At 6-foot-2 and about 200 pounds, he suited up for Battle2eld High during his junior season, played multiple positions, including wide receiver, cor- nerback, linebacker and even nose guard, and caught the attention of multiple Football Bowl Subdivision programs. Virginia Tech was one of the 2rst to recognize him and also the 2rst to ex- tend a scholarship o3er. Bu3alo, Kansas, Maryland, Syracuse and Temple all fol- lowed suit, and Penn State eventually did, too. But it took another visit to Uni- versity Park in order for Franklin to grab the coaches' attention. Penn State discovered Franklin in a more roundabout way than it does most recruits, and that's somewhat 2tting. As you'll read in the following Q&A with Blue White Illustrated assistant editor Tim Owen, Franklin is a unique prospect. Although he was recruited by the Nittany Lions as a linebacker, he has played just about every position on the 2eld. BWI You visited a couple of times be- fore the o3er – once in March with your teammates from Battle2eld and again in May. Then you got the o3er when you came back a third time. Can you go back to the beginning and recap how this all came about with Penn State? FRANKLIN When I took my first visit up there, we all just went up there to check out campus. It was during spring break at that point. Our coaches wanted just to check it out and see what it was like. We were like, OK cool, be- cause were checking out a couple other schools also. So it was good watching spring practice and stuff like that, but I didn't get a chance to talk to the coaches at all. They didn't talk to me whatsoever, but I was cool with that because the coaches didn't know me at all anyway. But after that visit, I guess my coach talked to Coach [Brent] Pry. Then Coach Pry [contacted] us and said he checked my film out and then he started loving me. He said, "Man, you're one of the [better ones] I've ever seen as far as outside linebackers. We're looking for a dynamic power guy like you, and you're just that." I just said, "Yes, sir." BWI What role does he want you to play as a linebacker? FRANKLIN It's like a hybrid outside linebacker. Somewhat like a strong safety who can come down and play outside linebacker, or just stay at the linebacker position. It's like a mix of a linebacker and a strong safety put to- gether. I can cover and I can give quar- terbacks some problems as far as rushing. ... But it's an outside linebacker [spot]. BWI The reason I ask is because you've MR. VERSATILITY Franklin was recruited by Penn State as a linebacker, but he has played a variety of positions on offense and defense in high school. Photo courtesy of Rivals.com I N T E R V I E W B R A I L Y N F R A N K L I N Growing up I've always played all over the place' '

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