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When I was a senior at UCLA, there were a few football players in one of my classes.
Most of them kept themselves or among themselves. It made sense considering the busy schedules they all had bouncing from practice to class and back to training and class again.
The brotherhood on a football team catered to the fact that they'd spend most of their time with each other and not talking to the rest of the kids in the classroom.
Though he surely won't remember me, I did have the chance to talk to Johnathan Franklin once. He sat next to me one day, and we casually chatted for 15-20 minutes about several things. Though I never spoke to him again, I can confidently say he was one of the nicest humans I had ever met in my life.
DeShaun Foster should also take a long look at Johnathan Franklin as director of leadership or create a mutually acceptable position to get him on staff. Of all the Bruins I’ve talked to over the years, Franklin might be the most impressive as far as relatability & presence.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) February 16, 2024
It's not a surprise to see his name associated with a potential job on DeShaun Foster's new staff (as alluded to by LA Times reporter Ben Bolch). Based on his makeup, background, and skill set, Franklin would be a grand slam hire by the Bruins.
Franklin came to UCLA from Dorsey High School -- an inner city institution where the Bruins traditionally haven't recruited well. From the jump, he made a major impact on the squad. As a freshman, he rushed for 566 yards and five touchdowns.
His sophomore year netted him a 1,127-yard campaign to go along with eight touchdowns. Franklin rushed for 976 yards as a junior, and his senior year culminated in a monster year -- racking up 1,734 yards and 13 touchdowns. As such, he was named as a First Team All-American.
Called "Jet-Ski" for his speed and elusiveness on the football field and 'The Mayor' for his ability to have everyone love him, Franklin was a 4th round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 2013 NFL Draft.
The Mayor as I’ve been told pic.twitter.com/ZyjlCQ2Rq2
— Martin Jarmond (@MartinJarmond) April 13, 2021
A neck injury led to Franklin having to retire after one year of professional football.
Though his playing career ended, Franklin has still been a fixture in the game. He worked in the Green Bay front office for a while, learning upper management skills. Franklin then bounced to Notre Dame, working directly with student-athletes in the arena of development.
Most recently, he's held a position with the Los Angeles Rams. To be more specific in local community affairs and relations.
This is a golden opportunity for both the Bruins and Foster. Get Franklin into your program in some capacity. It's always good to have ex-players embedded within the culture -- especially ones as decorated and respected as Franklin.
His influence on young student-athletes can only help this program grow in a positive direction.
More must-reads:
- 10 notable steals from the 2024 NFL Draft
- Five NFL starters who could be in danger of losing their job to a rookie
- The 'Most career passing touchdowns' quiz
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