James Franklin

• Franklin was named the 16th head football coach in the storied history of the Nittany Lion program on January 11, 2014.
• Franklin has 29 years of coaching experience at the collegiate and NFL level.
• He is one of four current FBS coaches to lead his teams to a bowl game in 12 of their first 13 seasons and has guided Penn State to five New Year’s Six bowls.
• Since 2014, Franklin’s first season with the Nittany Lions, Penn State owns wins in three New Year’s Six bowl games, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon as the only FBS schools with three or more wins in that span.
• Franklin is one of three current Big Ten coaches (Ryan Day and Kirk Ferentz) to have won a Big Ten Championship and became the first African American head coach to win a Big Ten title after Penn State’s 2016 victory.
• He owns a 112-54 career record, leading his teams to five Top 10 finishes (all at Penn State) and eight Top 25 finishes (2 at Vanderbilt; 6 at Penn State).
• Of the 15 current coaches with 100 career wins at the FBS level, Franklin is one of six with all of their first 100 wins coming while coaching at a Power Four program.
• Since 2016, Franklin’s .724 win percentage (74-27) ranks sixth among current FBS coaches.
• In the last eight seasons under Franklin, Penn State is one of six teams to rank in the top 12 of the College Football Playoff final rankings at least six times.
• With PSU's victory in the Rose Bowl Game to conclude the 2022 season, he became the fifth coach to win the Rose, Fiesta and Cotton Bowls at the same institution, joining Joe Paterno (Penn State), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), Mack Brown (Texas) and Terry Donahue (UCLA). 
• From 2016-19, Franklin led PSU to three New Year’s Six bowls - 2016 (Rose), 2017 (Fiesta) and 2019 (Cotton) - marking the first time Penn State as a program went to three New Year’s Six bowls in four years since 1980-83 (1980 Fiesta, 1982 Fiesta, 1983 Sugar).
• Franklin’s squads won three New Year’s Six bowl games in six years (2017-22), marking the first time PSU has won three New Year’s Six bowl games in a six-year span since 1991 (Fiesta), 1995 (Rose) and 1997 (Fiesta).
• He guided Penn State to back-to-back New Year’s Six bowls in 2016 (Rose) and 2017 (Fiesta) for the first time since 1985 (Orange) and 1986 (Fiesta), and again in 2022 (Rose) and 2023 (Peach).
• Penn State was ranked in the AP Top 25 for the 63 consecutive polls in which it was eligible from 2016-20, marking the third-longest streak in program history and longest streak since 1993-2000 when PSU was ranked for 121-straight weeks.
• From 2016-19, Franklin led Penn State to 42 wins, the most in program history for the Big Ten era in a four-year span, and 28 league wins, a program record.
• In his first 13 years as a head coach, Franklin mentored 107 players reaching the NFL ranks.
• Franklin has coached 16 All-Americans and 54 NFL Draft picks at Penn State. 
• Forty-five Penn State players have been selected in the last seven NFL Drafts, the most for PSU in a seven-draft span since 1991-97 (45 players). In addition, five-plus Nittany Lions have been drafted in seven-consecutive years, the longest streak for PSU since 1978-84.
• Franklin has secured top-25 recruiting classes each of his last 12 seasons, including a top-5 class at Penn State in 2018 and the No. 6 class in 2022.
• Franklin is first all-time in wins and winning percentage (minimum 80 wins) by an FBS African American head coach.
• He became the first (and only) African American head coach to win a Big Ten title and is the first (and only) African American FBS head coach to reach 100 career wins.
• Franklin’s victories in the Fiesta Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Music City Bowl and Birmingham Bowl (formerly the Compass Bowl) marked the first time in each bowl’s history an African American head coach earned the win.

2023 Season

• Penn State posted a 10-win season for the second-straight year and reached the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl after finishing 10th in the College Football Playoff rankings.

• As a team, the Nittany Lions were second in the nation in turnover margin (1.23) and finished 12th in time of possession (32:32). 

• PSU put together one of its top defensive performances in school history, leading the country in sacks (49) and rushing defense (75.5), while finishing second in total defense (246.7), tackles for loss (111) and fewest first downs allowed (13.9), third in scoring defense (13.5), fifth in fumble recoveries (12), seventh in passing defense (172.1), 11th in passing efficiency defense (116.4) and 12th in takeaways (24). 

• The 49 sacks were a school record for Penn State and the Lions finished in the top 10 in program history in rushing defense (3rd), total defense (4th), yards per carry allowed (T-5th), forced fumbles (T-9th) and fumble recoveries (T-9th). 

• Offensively, Penn State led the nation in fewest interceptions (2), and was third in fewest turnovers (8), fourth in red zone offense (95.3), 10th in fewest tackles for loss allowed (3.9)and 12th in scoring offense (36.2).

• The Nittany Lions’ special teams unit finished sixth in the nation in net punting (42.9). 

• Penn State had 29 All-Big Ten selections across offense, defense and special teams, highlighted by offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu, defensive end Chop Robinson, linebacker Abdul Carter and defensive end Adisa Isaac earning first-team laurels.

• Fashanu, the Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year and William V. Campbell Trophy finalist, was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, AFCA, Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation, clinching him consensus All-American status. 

• Quarterback Drew Allar posted a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 12.5-to-1 during his first season as the starter, finishing second nationally behind Oregon's Bo Nix (15-to-1).

• Penn State's tight ends, consisting of Theo Johnson, Tyler Warren and Khalil Dinkins, combined for 16 receiving touchdowns, the most in the nation, and PSU was the only FBS team with multiple tight ends owning 7+ receiving touchdowns in 2023.

• Isaac finished fourth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss per game (1.2; T-28th nationally) and fifth in sacks per game (0.6).

• Punt returner Daequan Hardy led the nation in punt return touchdowns (2) while ranking first in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in punt return average (14.6).

2022 Season

• With a 35-21 win over No. 8 Utah in the Rose Bowl Game, Franklin led the Nittany Lions to the program’s first Rose Bowl victory since the 1994 season. 

• Penn State earned its fourth 11-win season in the last seven years with an 11-2 record.

• The Nittany Lions finished 11th in the College Football Playoff rankings and were ranked seventh in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls.

• A total of 94 players on the roster played at least one snap during the season, which included 22 true freshmen.

• Penn State propelled itself into one of the top defensive units in the nation, ranking 10th in the country in scoring defense and tied for ninth in takeaways.

• The Nittany Lions finished first nationally with 85 pass breakups and had four games with double-digit pass breakups.

• PSU led the Big Ten with 104 tackles for loss (T-4th nationally) and 42 sacks (T-6th), and 26 different Nittany Lions had at least a full tackle for loss, good for second in the nation.

• The Nittany Lions additionally had 16 players who recorded at least one sack, tied for the nation’s lead among Power Five teams.

• Penn State recorded at least seven tackles for loss in each of the last eight games of 2022.

• PSU’s offense finished third in the Big Ten in fourth down conversion percentage (.700; 6th nationally), scoring offense (35.8; 19th) and total offense (433.6; 33rd).

• The Nittany Lions did not allow a sack in four games during the year, the most for Penn State since 2011 (5 games).

• Running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen became the first freshman duo in Big Ten history to both rush for 700-plus yards in a season.

• Penn State had 23 All-Big Ten selections across offense, defense and special teams in 2022, with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. leading the way as a first-team honoree.

• Singleton was named the Big Ten Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year, becoming the fourth Penn State player to win the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award and the 11th conference major award winner in the Franklin era.

• Penn State had three second-team All-Americans in Porter, offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu and cornerback Kalen King.

• Chris Stoll won the Patrick Mannelly Award, honoring the nation’s top long snapper. 

• Quarterback Sean Clifford closed out his career breaking school records in wins by a starting quarterback (32), completions (833), passing touchdowns (86), passing yards (10,661) and total yards (11,734). 

2021 Season

• The Nittany Lions earned a spot in a New Year’s Day bowl with an Outback Bowl berth.

• With wins over No. 12/15 Wisconsin and No. 22/20 Auburn, Penn State tallied two wins over ranked teams within the first three games of the season for the first time in program history.

• PSU’s defense allowed just 17.3 points per game in 2021, good for sixth in the country.

• The Nittany Lion defense allowed opponents only a 66.7% conversion rate in the red zone, ranking third nationally.

• Penn State gave up just 11 passing touchdowns on the year, ranking fourth in the nation, while yielding 199.8 passing yards per game, ranking 23rd.

• The special teams unit was strong on punt and kick coverage, as the Nittany Lions ranked second in the country in net punting (44.5), fifth in kickoff return defense (14.0) and ninth in punt return defense (2.79).

• The Nittany Lions earned 18 All-Big Ten selections across offense, defense and special teams, led by four first-team honorees - wide receiver Jahan Dotson, safety Jaquan Brisker, defensive end Arnold Ebiketie and punter Jordan Stout.

• Stout was named the Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year, becoming the first Penn State player to win the award.

• Safety Ji’Ayir Brown tied for the nation’s lead with six interceptions, the most for a Penn State player since 2006, and became the first Nittany Lion with six interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a season since 2005.

• Defensive end and second-team All-American Arnold Ebiketie paced the Big Ten with 17.0 tackles for loss and was second among Power Five defensive linemen in tackles for loss and tied for seventh in sacks.

• Dotson, a third-team All-American wideout, was a Biletnikoff Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year semifinalist and finished his career third all-time at Penn State in career receiving touchdowns (23) and fourth in receptions (175) and receiving yards (2,620).

• Stout, a Ray Guy Award finalist, set Penn State’s school record for career punt average (44.54) and season punt average (46.01) and became the second specialist in Big Ten history to earn Special Teams player of the Week in a season four times.

2020 Season

• With Franklin’s emphasis on safety, along with the precautions he, the coaching staff, medical team and support staff established, the Nittany Lions were one of only two Big Ten teams to play all nine of its scheduled games during a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Penn State paced the Big Ten in first downs (223) and was second in total offense (430.3).

• Tight end Pat Freiermuth was selected as the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year, becoming Penn State’s first tight end to win the award.

• Despite missing five of PSU’s nine games due to a season-ending injury, Freiermuth led Big Ten tight ends in receiving yards (310). Prior to his injury, Freiermuth led all FBS tight ends with 5.8 receptions per game and ranked fifth averaging 77.5 receiving yards per game.

• Wide receiver Jahan Dotson led the league in receiving yardage (884; 19th nationally) and was tied for the nation's lead in catches of 60-plus yards (4). Dotson also finished the year averaging 24.6 yards per punt return, a school record.

• Penn State ranked third in the Big Ten in total defense (328.8; 17th nationally), second in passing defense (198.6; 24th), second in tackles for loss (6.7 per game) and fourth in rushing defense (130.2).

• The Nittany Lions earned 16 All-Big Ten honors (six on offense, nine on defense and one on special teams), including first-team laurels for Freiermuth, defensive end Odafe Oweh and defensive end Shaka Toney.

• Oweh and Toney became the first Penn State defensive end duo to receive first-team honors since Courtney Brown and Brad Scioli in 1998.

2019 Season

• Penn State earned its third 11-win season in the last four years with an 11-2 record, including a win over No. 17 Memphis in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

• Penn State posted its fourth-straight top 12 finish in the final College Football Playoff rankings, coming in 10th.

• The Nittany Lions were ranked ninth in the final Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls.

• The Nittany Lions ended the season in the AP Top 25 in four consecutive seasons for the first time since a seven-year stint from 1993-99.

• Franklin was a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year award for the second time at Penn State (2016) and third time in his head coaching career.

• Defense was dominant for the Nittany Lions, finishing in the top 10 nationally in yards per rush (1st; 2.55), forced fumbles (1st; 22), rushing defense (5th; 95.0), sacks (7th; 3.46), scoring defense (8th; 16.0) and fumble recoveries (10th; 12). Penn State was also 11th in tackles for loss (7.8).

• The Nittany Lions’ 22 forced fumbles were the second-most in program history behind the school standard of 25 set in 1968.

• Offensively, the Nittany Lions continued to put up big numbers, ranking 15th in the country in scoring offense with a 35.8 average.

• The Penn State special teams unit made big gains in 2019, recording three blocked punts to finish third in the nation and four blocked kicks overall, which was sixth.

• Jonathan Sutherland led the way with a pair of blocked punts in the season-opener against Idaho, marking the first time since 2000 the Nittany Lions had two blocks in a game.

• The Nittany Lions had 19 players garner All-Big Ten accolades, including two first-team selections in Micah Parsons and Yetur Gross-Matos.

• Parsons was also selected as the Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year to become the third Nittany Lion to claim the award, joining Mike Hull (2014) and Michael Mauti (2012).

• Parsons was the first sophomore in conference history to win Big Ten Linebacker of the Year.

• In addition, Parsons became the 101st first-team All-American and 43rd consensus All-American in Penn State history. He collected first-team accolades from the Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and second-team from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Walter Camp Foundation and Sporting News.

• Tight end Pat Freiermuth was a finalist for the John Mackey Award for the nation’s top tight end and took home All-America accolades with a bid on the AFCA second team.

2018 Season

• The Nittany Lions posted their third-straight season with at least nine wins in 2018 with a 9-4 overall record.

• Penn State finished No. 12 in the College Football Playoff rankings and No. 17 in the AP and Amway Coaches polls.

• The defense led the way for the Nittany Lions in 2018, finishing in the top 20 in team passing efficiency (8th; 106.10), red zone defense (11th; .750), passing yards allowed (15th; 181.5) and third down conversion defense (19th; .336).

• The Penn State defense was a permanent fixture in the opposition’s backfield, leading the country in sacks (3.62) for the second time in the last four years and ranking fourth in tackles for loss (8.2).

• On the offensive side of the ball, the Nittany Lions posted their highest rushing average (204.9) since 2008 (205.8) and were No. 16 nationally in red zone offense (.897).

• Penn State had 15 players garner All-Big Ten accolades, including two first-team selections in Amani Oruwariye and Yetur Gross-Matos.

• Quarterback Trace McSorley capped his career as PSU’s career record holder for passing yards (9,899), completions (720), 300-yard passing games (10), 200-yard passing games (28), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,697), rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (30), passing touchdowns (77), total offense yards (11,596), touchdowns responsible for (107), wins as a starting quarterback (31) and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (34).

• In addition, McSorley set eight season records during his time in the Blue & White - passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, 200-yard passing games, 300-yard passing games, rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, total offense yards, touchdowns responsible for and the game record for yards of total offense.

• Blake Gillikin set the Penn State record for punting average in a season with a 44.00 mark, besting the previous record of 43.55 set by Ralph Giacomarro in 1981.

2017 Season

• Penn State continued to be among the nation’s elite in 2017, climbing as high as No. 2 in the rankings and appearing in a second-straight New Year’s Six bowl, earning a 35-28 win over No. 11 Washington in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

• The Nittany Lions earned back-to-back 11-win seasons for the fifth time in program history and first time since 2008 and 2009 with an 11-2 record.

• Penn State finished the season No. 8 in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls and No. 9 in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

• The Nittany Lions used a balanced attack with a high-scoring offense and a stingy defense to lead the nation in scoring differential with a +24.6 margin.

• Offensively, Penn State finished seventh nationally with a 41.1 scoring average, the third-highest in program history, and 19th in total offense with a 460.3 average, which also ranked third in PSU history.

• Defensively, the Nittany Lions were seventh in the country in scoring average (16.5 ppg) and sacks (3.23 spg), while coming in 17th in total defense (329.5).

• Running back Saquon Barkley finished a stellar collegiate career by winning the Paul Hornung Award for the nation’s most versatile player, three major Big Ten awards – Graham-George Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year – and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football for the second-straight season. Barkley became just the fifth player since 1924 to win two career Silver Football honors.

• Barkley became the 100th first-team All-American in program history with Consensus All-America honors and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

• The Nittany Lions had 18 players garner All-Big Ten accolades, including four first-team selections in Barkley (running back and return specialist), Marcus Allen and Mike Gesicki.

• McSorley, who was the Offensive MVP of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, followed up his record-breaking 2016 campaign with another outstanding season. In 2017, McSorley broke the Penn State single-season record for completions (284), total offense (4,061), touchdowns responsible for (37), 300-yard passing games (5) and 200-yard passing games (11).

• McSorley also became the second player in Big Ten history with 25 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing scores in a season, joining Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett (2014, 2017).

• Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton ended his Penn State career as the program’s career receptions leader (214) and second in school history in receiving yards (2,842).

• The Nittany Lions sent nine players to senior all-star games, which is the most since 2003 when nine student-athletes were in postseason games (Senior Bowl: Allen, Gesicki, Hamilton, Christian Campbell; East-West Shrine Bowl: Hamilton, Jason Cabinda, Curtis Cothran, Parker Cothren, Grant Haley; NFLPA Collegiate Bowl: Troy Apke). Apke was the MVP of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

2016 Season

• The Nittany Lions surged in 2016, winning nine consecutive games en route to the Big Ten Championship, a Rose Bowl berth and an 11-3 overall record.

• Penn State finished the season ranked No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings and No. 7 in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls. It was Penn State’s highest finish in the polls since 2005.

• The Nittany Lions claimed their fourth overall Big Ten Championship and first outright title since 1994 with a thrilling 38-31 comeback win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game.

• In 2016, Franklin was honored as Sporting News National Coach of the Year and the Woody Hayes National Coach of the Year, as well as the Dave McLain Big Ten Coach of the Year and Associated Press Big Ten Coach of the Year.

• Franklin was also a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant, Eddie Robinson and Associated Press National Coach of the Year awards.

• The 2016 season brought record-breaking performances from the Nittany Lions as the offense set marks for total offense (6,056), passing yards (3,650), points scored (526) and double-digit comeback wins (4).

• The Nittany Lions’ +14.4 scoring improvement in 2016 ranked fourth in the nation and second among Power Five schools.

• Barkley was selected as the Graham-George Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year and Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner for the conference’s top player.

• McSorley was named the Grange-Griffin Big Ten Championship Game MVP and Maxwell Club Tri-State Player of the Year. The second-team All-Big Ten honoree was the first Penn State quarterback to win all-conference honors since Daryll Clark in 2009.

• Defensively the Nittany Lions finished seventh nationally in tackles for loss (8.1) and 19th in sacks (2.86).

2015 Season

• Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to a 7-6 record in 2015 and a berth in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

• Under Franklin’s tutelage, Carl Nassib claimed a trio of national awards – Lombardi Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award – and became Penn State’s 13th unanimous Consensus All-American.

• Nassib also led the nation in sacks with a school-record 15.5.

• The 2015 season also saw Christian Hackenberg break every Penn State career passing record, including passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions, and true freshman Saquon Barkley set the freshman season rushing record with a 1,000-yard campaign.

• Barkley earned Big Ten Network’s Freshman of the Year and claimed second-team All-Big Ten honors, while wide receiver Chris Godwin (second team) and defensive tackles Austin Johnson (second team) and Anthony Zettel (third team) also earned All-Big Ten accolades.

2014 Season

• Franklin’s first season was bookended with a pair of thrilling victories for the Nittany Lions. The Penn State head coach’s inaugural season began with a final-play 26-24 victory over UCF in Dublin, Ireland, in Penn State’s first-ever international game and ended with a comeback, 31-30 overtime win over Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium. The Nittany Lions overcame a 14-point deficit late in the third quarter, tying the largest comeback in Penn State’s bowl history.

• Franklin became just the third Penn State coach to lead the team to at least seven wins in his first season, joining Dick Harlow (1915) and Bill O’Brien (2012).

• Franklin guided the Lions to a 4-0 start, joining Harlow as the only first-year Penn State coaches to win their initial four games.

• In Franklin’s first season at Penn State, he helped Mike Hull to the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year award to carry on the “Linebacker U” tradition.

• Zettel earned All-Big Ten first-team honors, while receiver DaeSean Hamilton garnered All-Big Ten second-team accolades after pulling in 82 catches for 899 yards.

• The Nittany Lions posted their first 1,000 single-year APR in program history in 2018-19, topping the previous high of 993 in 2014-15.

• Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2023), Sean Clifford (2021) and Trace McSorley (2018) have all been selected as National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar-Athletes and finalists for the Campbell Trophy, known as the “Academic Heisman.” They are the 18th, 19th and 20th Nittany Lions to be selected as an NFF Scholar-Athlete.

• In 2019, punter Blake Gillikin took home CoSIDA Academic All-America® first-team honors for the second-straight year to become the 12th two-time first-team selection in Penn State history. He graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in May 2020.

• Gillikin’s two first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors increased Penn State football’s total to 67 honorees, which ranks second in Division I football history (FBS and FCS).

• Tyler Yazujian collected a berth on the CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team in 2016 after an appearance on the second team in 2015.

• A program-record 10 Nittany Lions were named 2020-21 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars, besting the previous mark of nine set a year earlier.

• Penn State had a program-record 38 student-athletes claim Academic All-Big Ten honors in the fall of 2021, besting the previous mark of 35 set by Franklin’s squad in 2017.

• In the 2020 fall semester, five student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA), 37 made Dean's List (3.5 GPA or higher) and 86 posted a 3.0 GPA or higher with the University’s alternative COVID-19 grading system in place. The team posted a 3.39 mark with 29 players earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition.

• In the 2020 spring semester, 14 Nittany Lions posted a perfect 4.0 GPA and 89 squad members with at least a 3.0 GPA with the alternative grading also in effect.

• A total of 56 Nittany Lions earned a 3.0 GPA or higher during the 2015 fall semester, which set a school record.

• Fifty-two squad members compiled at least a 3.0 GPA in the fall of 2019, which was the second-highest semester total in program history.

• The Nittany Lions are active in the community, participating in activities such as Uplifting Athletes, THON, Pennsylvania Special Olympics Summer Games, State College Area Food Bank and Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital visits.

• In 2023 and 2024, Penn State Football partnered with Soles4Souls, whose mission is to turn unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunities, keeping them from going to waste and providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. 

• Student-athletes spent five days in Guatemala (2023) and the Dominican Republic (2024) in the partnership with Soles4Souls.

• On June 15, 2020, Franklin was named to the Big Ten Equality Coalition, which includes student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, chancellors, presidents and other members of the Big Ten family representing all 14 member institutions.

• Franklin and his wife, Fumi, established the Franklin Family Educational Equity Scholarship to help make the Penn State experience affordable for students who haven’t had access to enroll in the past.

• As part of the Cotton Bowl festivities in 2019, Franklin and his family made a $10,000 financial commitment to the Dallas Children’s Hospital.

• In August 2019, Franklin was named a Penn State University Renaissance Fund honoree, which awards outstanding community members for helping students in need.

• Quarterback Sean Clifford (2021) and linebacker Brandon Smith (2017) were selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works team for their selflessness and community service. Clifford and Smith are the fourth and fifth overall winners of the award in Penn State history.

• Clifford was selected one of three finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award in 2022, recognizing a student-athlete who demonstrates a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.

• The engaging and enthusiastic Franklin is a popular speaker and media interview subject. He was a guest analyst on ESPN’s coverage from the site of college football’s National Championship game, spending a day appearing on various ESPN platforms in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, Franklin joined the FOX studio crew for pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the Big Ten Championship Game.

• In February 2015, Franklin was the lone college head coach among the speakers and panelists at the prestigious MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston. He was a panelist for the session, “The Formula to Win: College Football Analytics,” which was moderated by ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols.

• Franklin has also been an ardent supporter of “Be the Match,” encouraging community members to join the national bone marrow registry.

• Franklin’s recruiting classes in the last seven years have been ranked an average of 11.9 nationally.

• Nine of the 15 highest-ranked 247Sports Composite recruits at Penn State since 2000 have been signed by Franklin.

• Penn State landed six out of the top 10 recruits from Pennsylvania in 2023, to go along with 16 total four-star signees.

• For two-straight years in 2022 and 2023, the Nittany Lions landed the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania (Nicholas Singleton and J’ven Williams).  

• Franklin and his staff inked the sixth-ranked recruiting class according to 247Sports in 2022, which featured the Gatorade and Maxwell Football Club National High School Player of the Year (Singleton), two No. 1 recruits from their respective states (Singleton and Dani Dennis-Sutton) and six of the top 10 players out of Pennsylvania. 

• Penn State’s No. 6-ranked recruiting class in 2022 had an average star rating of 3.76 and featured 16 signees who were rated with four stars or higher.

• The 2020 recruiting class finished No. 12 according to ESPN.com, No. 14 by Rivals and No. 15 per 247Sports.

• The 2019 class featured a pair of 247Sports five-star recruits and three No. 1-ranked recruits in their respective states (Brandon Smith, Adisa Issac and Sal Wormley).

• The 3.83 average star ranking for the 2019 class was the highest in program history since the inception of the 247Sports Composite in 2000.

• The 2018 recruiting class was ranked No. 4 by ESPN.com, the highest finish in program history. The class was also ranked No. 5 by Rivals and No. 6 by 247Sports.

• Penn State signed a Rivals No. 1 Pennsylvania recruit in three-straight years (2018 – Micah Parsons; 2017 – Lamont Wade; 2016 – Miles Sanders) for the first time since 2004 (Anthony Morelli), 2005 (Justin King) and 2006 (Jared Odrick).

• In 2018, Penn State inked three 247Sports Composite 5-star recruits for the first time since rankings began in 2001.

• The Nittany Lions also signed 12 ESPN300 recruits in 2018, the first time since 2006 when ESPN rankings started.

• Parsons was the No. 5-rated recruit in the 247Sports Composite, which is the highest recruit signed by Penn State since 2005 when Derrick Williams was the No. 4 overall recruit.

• In 2017, the newest set of Nittany Lions finished in the Top 15 in the country, ranking as high as 12th by Rivals.

• The Class of 2016 at Penn State finished in the top 20, ranking as high as 18th by ESPN, and featured a pair of five-star recruits.

• In 2016, Franklin secured the No. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania (Sanders) for the first time since Jared Odrick (2006).

• The Nittany Lions laid claim to the No. 1 running back in the state of Pennsylvania in 2015, 2016, 2022 and 2023.

• In February 2015, the Nittany Lions’ highly-regarded class of 25 signees was ranked in the top 15 nationally by the four major recruiting services.

• While at Vanderbilt, Franklin assembled a class that finished as high as 19th in 2014.

• In each of his three seasons in Nashville, Franklin signed classes that finished in the top 50 nationally. Prior to Franklin’s arrival, the Commodores average class rank was 64.6 since 2000 (based on 247Sports composite).

• Franklin directed Vanderbilt to consecutive Top 25 finishes for the first time in the 124-year history of the program (No. 23/24 – 2013 & No. 23/20 – 2012).

• The Commodores finished 23rd in the final 2012 Associated Press poll, marking their first AP final ranking since 1948.

• Franklin’s 24 wins tied Dan McGugin for  most by a Vanderbilt coach in his first three seasons.

• Franklin led Vanderbilt to a bowl game in each of his three seasons in Nashville, with the last two years resulting in wins over NC State (Music City Bowl) and Houston (BBVA Compass Bowl). The Commodores had played in four bowl games all-time in the 121 seasons prior to his arrival, none in consecutive years.

• Vanderbilt had posted four nine-win seasons in program history, with Franklin’s last two teams comprising half of the total.

• Over the last 20 games during the 2012-13 seasons, the Commodores’ 16-4 record was second-best in the SEC to Alabama’s 17-3 mark.

• Franklin guided the Commodores to a 6-6 regular-season record and earned a berth in the Liberty Bowl during his first season after inheriting a Vanderbilt team that finished 2-10 in both 2009 and 2010, with a combined mark of 1-15 in SEC play.

• The 2011 bowl berth was Vanderbilt’s second since 1983.

• The Commodores had a breakthrough campaign in 2012 under Franklin, finishing on a seven-game winning streak (longest since 1948) to post a 9-4 mark, Vanderbilt’s most wins in 97 years, and a berth in the Music City Bowl, in which VU defeated NC State, 38-24.

• A victory at Missouri sparked an 8-1 finish, which included three consecutive SEC road wins for the first time in program history.

• The Commodores were 5-3 in SEC play, winning five SEC games for the first time since 1935, and posted two shutouts for the first time since 1968.

• Franklin was among five finalists for the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year award in 2012.

• Wide receiver Jordan Matthews broke the Vanderbilt season receiving record with 1,323 yards on 94 catches in 2012.

• Vanderbilt continued its historic rise under Franklin during the 2013 season, capping a school-record 9-4 campaign with a 41-24 win over Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

• The Commodores defeated Florida, Georgia and Tennessee in the same season for the first time in program history, winning in Gainesville and Knoxville.

• Franklin helped Matthews develop into a two-time All-American and the SEC’s career leader in receptions (262) and receiving yardage (3,759). Matthews broke the SEC season record with 112 receptions for 1,477 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013, becoming the first SEC receiver to make 100 catches in a season.

• Franklin began his coaching career as the wide receivers coach at Kutztown (Pa.) University (1995) and was a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University in 1996, working with the secondary.

• In 1998, Franklin began his participation in the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship Program, starting a stint with the Miami Dolphins and working with Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. Franklin also worked with Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles (1999) and Minnesota Vikings (2008) in the NFL program.

• He was the wide receivers coach at James Madison (1997), a graduate assistant (tight ends) at Washington State in 1998 and the wide receivers coach at Idaho State (1999).

• In 2000, Franklin was named the wide receivers coach at Maryland under head coach Ron Vanderlinden, who would go on to coach the Penn State linebackers from 2001-13.

• Franklin continued in that role under new head coach Ralph Friedgen in 2002 and 2003 and helped the Terps to three consecutive 10-win seasons, including an appearance in the 2002 FedEx Orange Bowl. In 2003, Franklin added duties as recruiting coordinator and directed back-to-back recruiting classes ranked in the Top 25 nationally. Franklin and former Nittany Lion head coach Bill O’Brien (running backs) were Maryland assistant coaches in 2003 and 2004 under Friedgen.

• After five successful years at Maryland, Franklin was named wide receivers coach on Mike Sherman’s Green Bay Packers staff in 2005. During that season, Green Bay ranked third in the NFL in receptions (383) and seventh in receiving yards (3,766). Donald Driver was among the top receivers in the NFL, ranking second in receptions and eighth in receiving yards, with a then-career-high 86 catches for 1,221 yards.

• Franklin served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Kansas State during the 2006-07 seasons under head coach Ron Prince. In 2006, he helped the Wildcats to their first winning season in four years. Franklin coached quarterback Josh Freeman and oversaw an offense that produced a 3,000-yard passer (Freeman), 1,500-yard receiver (All-American wide receiver Jordy Nelson) and 1,000-yard rusher (James Johnson) during the 2007 season, a first in school history. Freeman would go on to become the Wildcats’ highest NFL offensive draft pick since 1954 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him 17th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.

• Franklin returned to Maryland in 2008 as the Terps’ assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He helped the Terrapins to victories in the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl and the 2010 Military Bowl. The 2010 squad was among the national leaders in scoring offense at 32.2 points per game and was led by ACC Rookie of the Year quarterback Danny O’Brien. He threw for 2,438 yards, 22 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 2010, with All-ACC receiver Torrey Smith making 67 catches for 1,055 yards and 12 scores.

• Franklin was a four-year letterman at quarterback and a two-time All-PSAC selection at East Stroudsburg.

• Franklin graduated having broken or tied 23 school records.

• He set seven school records as a senior to earn team MVP honors and was a Harlon Hill Trophy nominee as the NCAA Division II Player of the Year.

• Among the season records he set were for total offense (3,128 yards), passing yards (2,586) and touchdown passes (19).

• Franklin was inducted into the East Stroudsburg Athletics Hall of Fame October 15, 2016.

• Franklin graduated from East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University in 1995 with a degree in psychology and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Washington State University.

• Franklin graduated from Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

• Franklin and his wife, Fumi, have two daughters, Shola and Addison.