Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/717693
played just about every position on the 0eld, right? FRANKLIN Yes, sir. Growing up I've always played all over the place. My 0rst position I played was middle linebacker. I pretty much aspired to play middle linebacker, because at the time I lived in Texas and my favorite player was Dat Ngyuen. He was a middle linebacker for the Cowboys. He pretty much inspired me, so I had his number when I was a little kid playing linebacker. A2er that, when I turned 7, I played center and I played defensive end. Then when I turned 8, the next year, that's when I played running back. On o1ense I played running back and tight end. On defense I was switching in between defensive end and middle line- backer. Basically all my life I've been pretty much a defensive guy. ... In my head it's like, I don't want to do that. In my heart, I say, that's pretty much who you are. [Kansas o1ered] as a receiver. All through little league I played line- backer, tight end, running back and de- fensive end. Once I got to middle school I played quarterback. That was my 0rst time playing quarterback. My seventh- grade year, the coach came to me, bea- cuse I was playing receiver. He asked, "You ever think about playing QB? You get the ball a ton." I was like, Well, if you get the ball a ton, that sounds great. So I just played it. I just stuck at it from there, running the option and throwing the ball every now and then. When I got to high school I really wanted to play re- ceiver. So I went out for receiver and I was playing there until I moved to Vir- ginia. When I got to Virginia, I started out the year playing receiver and corner. I was playing a lot of corner. That's what I was playing when I 0rst got here. To- ward the middle of the season, one of our guys got hurt, so Coach asked, "What do you think about playing a lit- tle nose guard?" I was like, Well, I played a little nose guard before in little league. He was like, "Show us what you can do." So I went out there and did it – shoot the gap or just use my hands. BWI What does that say about you as a player that you'll play, really, any posi- tion? FRANKLIN As long as I can go out there and have fun and play, I'm good for it. That's pretty much what it is for me. As long as I'm able to play, I'm good. People tell me that I'm just naturally an athlete. I'm like, OK, that's really not telling me anything. As far as just doing it, though, that's when I can actually see it. BWI Like when you switch from corner to nose guard? FRANKLIN Yeah, when I just do it, I can do it. I just see how other people do it, take it down, take it in, and watch people who've done great at it, as far as NFL players and college players, and say, OK, I can do this. Then I go ahead and do it. But I think [what] has helped me play the positions that I play and do the things that I do is the fact that I've played running back. That has gotten my vision straight. That's how I'm pretty much able to see the back0eld and look for everything that's going on – be- cause I know where holes are and where holes will be. BWI What other sports do you play? FRANKLIN I do wrestling, basketball, football, track and 0eld events. That's pretty much about everything, but growing up I did swimming [and cross country]. ... I might also do rugby this year. BWI Last one: What's Penn State get- ting from you? FRANKLIN Penn State is getting a guy who is going to stay true to his word and 0ght and basically give it his all. A guy who is going to study as much as possi- ble, a guy who is going to be there to help his team out. Honestly, I'm the type of guy who actually cares for his team. And really likes to lead, a big-time leader. ■