Player Primer: Jace Franklin
Williamsville’s 2017 RB Jace Franklin has 1 FCS roster offer, 2 D2 offers and a NAIA offer with FBS and FCS schools in the mix for him. We talked his visits, being a very dedicated and coachable player and more…
You can find Jace on Twitter @jace_iiii .
Jace Franklin
Williamsville
Williamsville, IL
Wt: 190 lbs
Class: 2017
Commitment status: Undecided
LPI: You guys finished the season very well at 9-2, but lost to a good Carlinville team in the playoffs. Now that your season is over, what are you going to do to take your game to the next level?
JF: To take my game to the next level it is imperative that I’m conditioning my body and mind for the next level. Eating right and hitting the weight room will be a huge factor in how I perform at the next level, wherever I end up. Preparing my mind for the class load that I have coming up is at the top of my list, I’m going to be studying what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life and I can’t take that for granted.
LPI:You’re sitting on offers from FCS Valpo, D2 Minnesota State Monkato, McKendree and NAIA Dordt. What are your greatest strengths or what can you bring to the table for a college football program?
JF: I believe that I am a high class individual with athletic abilities. I pride myself on my humbleness and sportsmanship, being a team player, and being coachable. I have been playing varsity for 4 years and not once have I gotten an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at any level. I am dedicated to the team and a coach will only know that when they see me on their team, I go as hard as I do in practice as I do in a game. Being coachable is something that I have been hearing since I was 5, when I started playing and it has been a big part of my game ever since. I’ve realized the coaches know what they’re talking about most of the time and arguing isn’t going to do anything for you.
LPI: Besides the schools that have offered you, which schools have you kept in contact with the most? Or which schools have shown interest in you?
JF: Southern Illinois is one of the schools that have really kept in contact, the coaches there are really easy to connect with and are very energetic. Also Western Illinois has been talking with me and I was very impressed with the coaching staff and players at the camp I went to last summer. Northern Illinois has been huge on my recruiting journey with a game day visit and I loved the facilities there with the high energy team and coaches. Missouri State University has had some contact as well and I really enjoy talking to their coach about their plans for the future.
LPI: Where have you visited most recently and do you have any planned visits coming up?
JF: My last game day visit was at Northern Illinois, and actually today at school I had Southern Illinois Carbondale coming to talk to me.
LPI: On or off the field, how do you demonstrate leadership?
JF: I set an example in practice by going 110% every time I’m on the field. If it’s scout team to help out the defense, or its offensive practice, or even special teams I am going my hardest to better not only myself but the people around me. In the classroom I look at it as a game, every time I’m studying and doing worksheets it’s like practice then when I take that test, it’s the game and a good grade is a win and that’s what I live for.
LPI: Who are some of your teammates that you believe have a chance to play at the next level, but may be getting overlooked by college coaches?
JF: Joseph Mitchell is one of the Junior wide receivers in the class of 2018, on our team and he just transferred to our school just last year and was a huge addition to our already phenomenal receiving core. He has all of the attributes of a college level receiver, he runs hard, fast, crisp routes. Has the speed to separate himself from a defender and accelerate after the catch to pick up big yards. Also he is a good role model to other teammates on and off the field, while he is in practice and in the game, if another person on the team is down or does the wrong route or something. Also in school he is a very smart and good student, all of the teachers have nothing but good things to say about him and his grades are very good.