Franks is anything but average

Sporting News, The, August 17, 1998 by Carl C. Perkins

It took Daniel "Bubba" Franks 19 college receptions, one season's worth, to establish himself as a legitimate threat. But it was reception No. 12--a 42-yard bulldozing catch-and-run for a touchdown against Temple last season--that solidified Franks as one of the nation's best fight ends.

Franks, now a third-year sophomore at the University of Miami, caught a 12-yard pass, ran over a defender, then raced 30 yards down the sideline for the score. It was a play that showcased the best attributes of the 6-6, 250-pound Texan: soft hands, power and decent speed. And it was that type of play that earned Franks second-team All-Big East honors as well as Freshman All-American mention from TSN.

"I don't want to be average," Franks says. "I like to dominate."

He already has shown he is capable. Last season, Franks produced 19 receptions for 294 yards (15.5-yard average) and four touchdowns in an offense that seldom utilized the tight end in passing situations. But that started to change as Franks got more playing time.

After catching just four passes in his first five college games, Franks equaled that total in a double-overtime victory at Boston College. Then came the Temple game in which Franks had five receptions for 110 yards, marking the first time in four years a Miami tight end . recorded more than 100 yards receiving.

Franks, who studies Denver's Shannon Sharpe and New England's Ben Coates on video, figures to have more spotlight-grabbing opportunities in 1998. Among his offensive counterparts are his roommate, junior tailback Edgerrin James, who rushed for 1,098 yards last year; fellow sophomore tight end Mondriel Fulcher (6-3, 250), the better blocker of the two; and a trio of sophomore receivers (Reggie Wayne, Daryl Jones and Santana Moss) who combined for 1,361 yards on 79 receptions (17.2 average) as true freshmen last season. With James' ability to bait linebackers on play-action fakes and the wideouts' ability to spread the field, Franks should get plenty of chances to shine in an offense that will have to put up points aplenty to compensate for a defense that could have problems up front.

Franks spent his redshirt season banging heads daily with defensive ends Kenard Lang, the 17th overall selection in the draft (to the Redskins) in 1997, and Kenny Holmes, the 18th overall selection (to the Oilers) that year. "I jumped in with sharks," says Franks, who contends he became a better player because of the tough practices.

Franks and many of the other young Hurricanes spend time watching video of the great UM teams of the '80s and early '90s. They watch games against Notre Dame, Florida State, Oklahoma, Penn State and a host of others. "We watch their attitude," Franks says, "how they would just take over a game."

The movie time is meant to help Miami return to its glory days. "I'd say another season," Franks says. "One more season and we should be on top."

And if, or when, that happens, Franks will be one of the main reasons.

RELATED ARTICLE: CONFERENCE RANK: 6

Predicted order of finish

1. West Virginia 2. Syracuse 3. Virginia Tech 4. Miami 5. Boston College 6. Pittsburgh 7. Temple 8. Rutgers

Conference "bests"

Offensive player: Donovan McNabb, QB, Syracuse.

Defensive player:. Gary Stills, OLB, West Virginia.

Coach: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech.

Offensive newcomer:, Brandon Williams, TB, Pittsburgh.

Defensive newcomer:. Sheldon King, DE, Syracuse.

Conference game: Syracuse at West Virginia, November 7.

Non-conference game: Ohio State at West Virginia, September 5.

Offensive backfield: Syracuse.

Offensive line: West Virginia.

Wide receivers: West Virginia.

Defensive line: West Virginia.

Linebackers: Syracuse.

Secondary: Miami.

Special teams: Virginia Tech.

Recruiting class: Miami.

Coaching staff: Virginia Tech.

While Franks is the best tight end in the Big East, here are the best tight ends in the other conferences:

ACC: Casey Crawford, Virginia.

Big Ten: Jerame Tuman, Michigan.

Big 12: Sheldon Jackson, Nebraska.

Big West: Darin Higgins, Nevada.

Conference USA: Ibn Green, Louisville.

Independents: Jabari Holloway, Notre Dame.

MAC: Mike Bilik, Toledo.

Pac-10: Kendrick Bates, Arizona State.

SEC: Rufus French, Mississippi.

WAC: Sam Mineo, UNLV.

Chris Perkins covers Miami for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.