By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Apr. 17 2008
Bursting through the double doors from the indoor practice facility at Rams
Park, Will Franklin was dripping with sweat and flashing a smile.
"It was good, a great opportunity for me to come here and actually work out for
my home team, who I've been watching all my life ... well, at least since '95,"
when the Rams moved here from Los Angeles, Franklin gushed. "The feedback I
got, I think I did a pretty good job, and I'm excited about that."
It's a heady time for Franklin, a wideout from Vashon High School whose 143
catches and 2,125 receiving yards both rank fourth on the University of
Missouri's career list. The NFL draft is approaching (April 26-27), and
Franklin's name should be called near the midpoint of the seven rounds.
"I'm definitely nervous, but it's an excited nervous," Franklin said. "It's
something that you work for all your life. ... I'm just ready to get this over
with and get me some rest."
Franklin, who still is taking classes at Mizzou and expects to complete his
degree in December, has been on the move since the Tigers concluded their
breakthrough 12-2 season with a 38-7 spanking of Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl.
He spent some time at the Athlete's Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz.,
preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine and MU's pro day, which drew scouts from
17 teams.
Then, Franklin hit the road to meet with various NFL teams.
Franklin, the nephew of former NFL wideout Darnay Scott, sought counsel from
former MU quarterback Brad Smith about the wearying process that precedes the
draft.
"Brad went through some of the similar things, with the visits and the
opportunity of going high" in the draft, Franklin said. "He understands what
I'm going through, and he's kept me level."
Smith was the New York Jets' fourth-round pick in 2006. Franklin, generally
ranked as a top-15 wide receiver, could go as high as Round 3.
"He's an outstanding athlete with great speed," Rams coach Scott Linehan said.
"He had a really good workout with us."
NFL scouts covet "measurables," and Franklin has plenty.
His size (6-feet-2 and 210 pounds), combined with the 40-inch-plus vertical
leap and 4.3 speed for 40 yards he has flashed recently, have helped push him
up the charts, even though his production dipped a bit in 2007.
After nearly entering the draft last year, Franklin is glad he stayed for his
senior season.
"It helped out a lot, even with the numbers not how they were the previous
year," he said. "I think I showed that I could help win at a high level. That
was my goal, to go in and show that I'm a team player. There's no individual in
me."
According to one leading draft service, nfldraftscout.com, Franklin already had
added some intangibles to his résumé.
It noted he "really improved his competitiveness the last few years, displaying
more fire than he did earlier in his career, displaying true courage and a
desire to make plays after the catch."
So-so route-running and blocking skills, and occasional mental lapses are
negatives that have been cited in evaluations of Franklin.
The Rams will be shopping for a wideout, one fast enough to stretch the defense.
"I would love that opportunity," Franklin said. "I don't really want to pack my
bags and go somewhere else."
Still, the Rams have several other needs that must be addressed after going
3-13 in 2007.
"I'd love to have him on the team,'' Linehan said. "But ... there are 31 other
teams that probably like him, too."
Next weekend, Franklin will gather with a few family members — including infant
daughter Aniyah — at his mother's house in north St. Louis County and find out
which team likes him the most.
"It's been a glory road," he said. "I finished my (MU) career on a high note,
and I think I impressed a lot of people these last couple of months. Now, I'm
just looking to reap some of the benefits."
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Apr. 17 2008
Bursting through the double doors from the indoor practice facility at Rams
Park, Will Franklin was dripping with sweat and flashing a smile.
"It was good, a great opportunity for me to come here and actually work out for
my home team, who I've been watching all my life ... well, at least since '95,"
when the Rams moved here from Los Angeles, Franklin gushed. "The feedback I
got, I think I did a pretty good job, and I'm excited about that."
It's a heady time for Franklin, a wideout from Vashon High School whose 143
catches and 2,125 receiving yards both rank fourth on the University of
Missouri's career list. The NFL draft is approaching (April 26-27), and
Franklin's name should be called near the midpoint of the seven rounds.
"I'm definitely nervous, but it's an excited nervous," Franklin said. "It's
something that you work for all your life. ... I'm just ready to get this over
with and get me some rest."
Franklin, who still is taking classes at Mizzou and expects to complete his
degree in December, has been on the move since the Tigers concluded their
breakthrough 12-2 season with a 38-7 spanking of Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl.
He spent some time at the Athlete's Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz.,
preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine and MU's pro day, which drew scouts from
17 teams.
Then, Franklin hit the road to meet with various NFL teams.
Franklin, the nephew of former NFL wideout Darnay Scott, sought counsel from
former MU quarterback Brad Smith about the wearying process that precedes the
draft.
"Brad went through some of the similar things, with the visits and the
opportunity of going high" in the draft, Franklin said. "He understands what
I'm going through, and he's kept me level."
Smith was the New York Jets' fourth-round pick in 2006. Franklin, generally
ranked as a top-15 wide receiver, could go as high as Round 3.
"He's an outstanding athlete with great speed," Rams coach Scott Linehan said.
"He had a really good workout with us."
NFL scouts covet "measurables," and Franklin has plenty.
His size (6-feet-2 and 210 pounds), combined with the 40-inch-plus vertical
leap and 4.3 speed for 40 yards he has flashed recently, have helped push him
up the charts, even though his production dipped a bit in 2007.
After nearly entering the draft last year, Franklin is glad he stayed for his
senior season.
"It helped out a lot, even with the numbers not how they were the previous
year," he said. "I think I showed that I could help win at a high level. That
was my goal, to go in and show that I'm a team player. There's no individual in
me."
According to one leading draft service, nfldraftscout.com, Franklin already had
added some intangibles to his résumé.
It noted he "really improved his competitiveness the last few years, displaying
more fire than he did earlier in his career, displaying true courage and a
desire to make plays after the catch."
So-so route-running and blocking skills, and occasional mental lapses are
negatives that have been cited in evaluations of Franklin.
The Rams will be shopping for a wideout, one fast enough to stretch the defense.
"I would love that opportunity," Franklin said. "I don't really want to pack my
bags and go somewhere else."
Still, the Rams have several other needs that must be addressed after going
3-13 in 2007.
"I'd love to have him on the team,'' Linehan said. "But ... there are 31 other
teams that probably like him, too."
Next weekend, Franklin will gather with a few family members — including infant
daughter Aniyah — at his mother's house in north St. Louis County and find out
which team likes him the most.
"It's been a glory road," he said. "I finished my (MU) career on a high note,
and I think I impressed a lot of people these last couple of months. Now, I'm
just looking to reap some of the benefits."
