Name: Leon Franklin
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Southfield (MI) A&T
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #40
Last year: I ranked Franklin #70 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He ran 4 times for 9 yards and caught 1 pass for a 20-yard touchdown.
TTB Rating: N/A
Franklin, a walk-on back, got a few opportunities again in 2022 during blowout situations to touch the ball, along with playing special teams in several games. His season was highlighted by the UConn game, where he caught a dump-off from a scrambling Alan Bowman and toted it in for a 20-yard touchdown. But his touches came behind other backups, like C.J. Stokes and Tavierre Dunlap.
I expect Franklin to move down the depth chart in 2023 with the arrival of Benjamin Hall and Cole Cabana. Michigan did not lose any running backs in the off-season to the NFL, graduation, or transfer, and both Hall and Cabana arrive fresh out of high school. Hall had an impressive spring game, and Cabana is a speedster who enrolled early but missed time in the spring due to injury. The coaching staff needs to develop one or two guys for 2024 after Blake Corum and possibly Donovan Edwards have left for the NFL, and the fifth-year senior Franklin won't be in the mix. So while Franklin should still play on special teams and maybe get a couple touches, I think Hall and/or Cabana will make more meaningful contributions.
Prediction: Backup running back and special teamer
Too high for Franklin. Michigan moved Mullings to RB and added freshman. Only gash is gone. Last year was his big chance and he was quiet. Good walk on Career but Michigan continues to ascend. I could be the #7 RB . Franklin is useful as a special teams guy. And had had a nice career.
ReplyDeleteThis part of the countdown is the area where special teams contributors and third-stringers unlikely to play much are hanging out. You could probably rearrange #75-95 or so without anyone batting an eyelash.
DeleteI mean sure, if you put it like that.
DeleteBut what fun is there to be had with that attitude? My subjective quibbles are admittedly immaterial but I think, for example, that Karmello English might be in on a meaningful down against OSU in November and I would very much bet against Franklin doing that.
Then again Isiah Gash was out there at key moments last year so sometimes injuries drive this stuff.
English's liklihood of being out there might just be 10% while Franklins might be 80% likely to be contributing on special teams while English is probably not seeing the field at all. It's subjective - that's the fun part. I mean no offense.