Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography
Gameday Feature: From Winless to All-Conference
9/8/2017 2:37:00 PM | Football
SFA senior defensive end John Franklin went from never winning a football game in high school to an all-conference player for the ‘Jacks in just two years
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Most high school athletes who have aspirations of playing at the next level usually know what it feels like to win a game, and the majority of the time have experienced that feeling a plethora of times throughout their high school careers. Not too often do you hear of a high school star who never wins a game during their entire four-year prep career. Most of the time you would assume a high school star in such a position would probably not be playing at the collegiate level.
However, that is exactly the position Stephen F. Austin senior defensive end John Franklin was in following the 2013 football season at Greenville High School in north Texas. Not once during his four years of playing for the Lions, including three as a starting defensive end, did Franklin see a "W" in the column to the right of his high school's name.
Not only did Franklin go winless during his years as a standout at Greenville, he had to endure countless of lopsided contests.
"We were getting whupped pretty bad", Franklin said, "We had a couple close games but for the most part they weren't."
So how did Franklin overcome the woefulness of his high school team to be a college recruit? He played many different positions on the field at Greenville on both sides of the ball, including running back, tight end, linebacker and his main spot on the defensive line. Not to mention lettering in basketball and track and field, and working hard to become an A/B honor roll student.
"Recruiting was a little tough", remarked Franklin. "I knew I could play somewhere, whether it be Division I, and I always knew I could play Division 1, but I just wanted to play somewhere. I wanted to play college football in general and thank God, coach Conque and a couple other schools gave me the opportunity to play and I'm thankful for it every day."
SFA head coach Clint Conque was hired to lead the Lumberjacks in December of 2013 following Franklin's senior season at Greenville High School. That February Franklin found himself a part of coach Conque's inaugural recruiting class, despite going 0-40 during his four years of high school. Make no mistake, Franklin was a force to be reckon with throughout his high school career. He was twice an all-District 13-4A selection and registered 189 tackles and 23 sacks between his junior and senior seasons.
After a season-opening road loss at Big 12 opponent Kansas State to start the 2014 season for the Lumberjacks, SFA claimed its first win of the coach Conque era on Sept. 6 with 38-3 Southland Conference home route of Incarnate Word. That date also marked the first night Franklin got to experience being on the winning side of a football game, those feelings and emotions had eluded him for the previous five years.
"It was great", exclaimed Franklin, "It made it better because all my teammates were there and they were excited for me because they knew the struggles I had been through. It was great to experience that with people I had just started bonding with."
Franklin does not let any of his past experiences with losing seasons in high school affect his play or mentality.
"I don't let that phase me", Franklin commented. "We all get opportunities in life and it's about what you do with the opportunities. I just try to make the best of my opportunities. Coaches always say, 'all you ask for in life is a chance', so this is my chance and I'm trying to make the most of it."
Making the best of his opportunities is exactly what Franklin has done. As a true freshman in 2013, Franklin saw plenty of time on the field and appeared in a total of eight games, finishing with 11 tackles on the year. He made significant progress in his sophomore campaign, claiming All-Southland Conference Second Team honors and being named national defensive player of the week once. He played in all 11 games for SFA in 2015 and made four starts, posting 32 tackles on the year and making 17 solo stops, not to mention leading the team in both tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (6.0). As a junior in 2016, Franklin was even more dominant on the defensive line, earning first-team All-Southland accolades and starting nine of the Lumberjacks' 11 games. He recorded 32 total tackles for the season once again but 20 of those were of the solo variety as he led the conference in quarterback hurries and forced fumbles, ranking eighth nationally.
Not only is Franklin's success seen on the field but it is also recognized in the classroom. He was named to the Academic All-Southland First Team after the 2016 season and looks to repeat that honor this year as a kinesiology major.
Franklin has had a blast throughout his college career and it's been even better with every victory SFA claims. He may cherish and value each win a little more than his teammates after knowing what it's like to never experience the feeling. During Franklin's first year as a Lumberjack in 2014, SFA went 8-5 and made the FCS playoffs. It was one was one of best things that could have happened to Franklin coming from the high school program he came from.
"That was probably one of the better experiences of my life", Franklin stated. "It went from not winning a game to going to the playoffs. You don't get very many chances and I talked to my brother about it, and he's like, 'You don't know if you're going to go again so make the most of it'. I feel like I did and we played a good team and fell short, but it was a good experience and I had a blast."
Reflecting back on how Franklin got to where he is today from where he started, the defensive end gives a lot of credit to his grandparents.
"My grandpa and grandma are a big influence", added Franklin. "That's really who I do it for, I just want to make them proud"
One particular Lumberjack coach has also tremendously helped Franklin.
"I got here and Coach Howe (Tom) was a big, big help for me", continued Franklin. "I couldn't have done it without coach Howe. I didn't get coached too much in high school and I never had to play hard. Coach Howe doesn't give me a choice and I thank him for that all the time just because I wouldn't be the player I am today without him."
Franklin added, "My sister and my aunt, I don't have a lot of people there for me so those who are there mean a lot to me. That's who I play for."
This fall Franklin will attempt to make one final lasting impression on the SFA football program and the Southland Conference after being tabbed a preseason All-Southland First Team pick and ranking 31st on Dave Campbell's Texas Football list of Most Important Players in Texas for 2017.
-SFA-
However, that is exactly the position Stephen F. Austin senior defensive end John Franklin was in following the 2013 football season at Greenville High School in north Texas. Not once during his four years of playing for the Lions, including three as a starting defensive end, did Franklin see a "W" in the column to the right of his high school's name.
Not only did Franklin go winless during his years as a standout at Greenville, he had to endure countless of lopsided contests.
"We were getting whupped pretty bad", Franklin said, "We had a couple close games but for the most part they weren't."
So how did Franklin overcome the woefulness of his high school team to be a college recruit? He played many different positions on the field at Greenville on both sides of the ball, including running back, tight end, linebacker and his main spot on the defensive line. Not to mention lettering in basketball and track and field, and working hard to become an A/B honor roll student.
"Recruiting was a little tough", remarked Franklin. "I knew I could play somewhere, whether it be Division I, and I always knew I could play Division 1, but I just wanted to play somewhere. I wanted to play college football in general and thank God, coach Conque and a couple other schools gave me the opportunity to play and I'm thankful for it every day."
SFA head coach Clint Conque was hired to lead the Lumberjacks in December of 2013 following Franklin's senior season at Greenville High School. That February Franklin found himself a part of coach Conque's inaugural recruiting class, despite going 0-40 during his four years of high school. Make no mistake, Franklin was a force to be reckon with throughout his high school career. He was twice an all-District 13-4A selection and registered 189 tackles and 23 sacks between his junior and senior seasons.
After a season-opening road loss at Big 12 opponent Kansas State to start the 2014 season for the Lumberjacks, SFA claimed its first win of the coach Conque era on Sept. 6 with 38-3 Southland Conference home route of Incarnate Word. That date also marked the first night Franklin got to experience being on the winning side of a football game, those feelings and emotions had eluded him for the previous five years.
"It was great", exclaimed Franklin, "It made it better because all my teammates were there and they were excited for me because they knew the struggles I had been through. It was great to experience that with people I had just started bonding with."
Franklin does not let any of his past experiences with losing seasons in high school affect his play or mentality.
"I don't let that phase me", Franklin commented. "We all get opportunities in life and it's about what you do with the opportunities. I just try to make the best of my opportunities. Coaches always say, 'all you ask for in life is a chance', so this is my chance and I'm trying to make the most of it."
Making the best of his opportunities is exactly what Franklin has done. As a true freshman in 2013, Franklin saw plenty of time on the field and appeared in a total of eight games, finishing with 11 tackles on the year. He made significant progress in his sophomore campaign, claiming All-Southland Conference Second Team honors and being named national defensive player of the week once. He played in all 11 games for SFA in 2015 and made four starts, posting 32 tackles on the year and making 17 solo stops, not to mention leading the team in both tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (6.0). As a junior in 2016, Franklin was even more dominant on the defensive line, earning first-team All-Southland accolades and starting nine of the Lumberjacks' 11 games. He recorded 32 total tackles for the season once again but 20 of those were of the solo variety as he led the conference in quarterback hurries and forced fumbles, ranking eighth nationally.
Not only is Franklin's success seen on the field but it is also recognized in the classroom. He was named to the Academic All-Southland First Team after the 2016 season and looks to repeat that honor this year as a kinesiology major.
Franklin has had a blast throughout his college career and it's been even better with every victory SFA claims. He may cherish and value each win a little more than his teammates after knowing what it's like to never experience the feeling. During Franklin's first year as a Lumberjack in 2014, SFA went 8-5 and made the FCS playoffs. It was one was one of best things that could have happened to Franklin coming from the high school program he came from.
"That was probably one of the better experiences of my life", Franklin stated. "It went from not winning a game to going to the playoffs. You don't get very many chances and I talked to my brother about it, and he's like, 'You don't know if you're going to go again so make the most of it'. I feel like I did and we played a good team and fell short, but it was a good experience and I had a blast."
Reflecting back on how Franklin got to where he is today from where he started, the defensive end gives a lot of credit to his grandparents.
"My grandpa and grandma are a big influence", added Franklin. "That's really who I do it for, I just want to make them proud"
One particular Lumberjack coach has also tremendously helped Franklin.
"I got here and Coach Howe (Tom) was a big, big help for me", continued Franklin. "I couldn't have done it without coach Howe. I didn't get coached too much in high school and I never had to play hard. Coach Howe doesn't give me a choice and I thank him for that all the time just because I wouldn't be the player I am today without him."
Franklin added, "My sister and my aunt, I don't have a lot of people there for me so those who are there mean a lot to me. That's who I play for."
This fall Franklin will attempt to make one final lasting impression on the SFA football program and the Southland Conference after being tabbed a preseason All-Southland First Team pick and ranking 31st on Dave Campbell's Texas Football list of Most Important Players in Texas for 2017.
-SFA-
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