Dennis Franklin

Receptions:	6
Receiving yards:	125
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Career highlights and awards
	First-team All-Big Ten (1973); 2× Second-team All-Big Ten (1972, 1974);
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:
Receptions:	6
Receiving yards:	125
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Dennis Franklin
	Franklin laterals to Chuck Heater, 1973
No. 9, 89
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	August 24, 1953 (age 71); Massillon, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	Massillon Washington
College:	Michigan
NFL draft:	1975 / round: 6 / pick: 144
Career history
	Detroit Lions (1975–1976);
Receptions:	Dennis E. Franklin (born August 24, 1953) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Lions in the 1975 NFL draft. Prior to playing in the NFL, he played college football as a quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines from 1971 to 1974. He was their starter from 1972 to 1974. He was recruited by Michigan after starring for the Massillon High School football team in Ohio. Franklin is known as Michigan's first black quarterback.Contents High school ; College ; Career passing statistics ; Career rushing statistics ; Professional career ; See also ; References ; External links ; High school Before attending the University of Michigan, Franklin drew attention as the talented quarterback of the 1970 Massillon High School Tigers football team. With Franklin at quarterback, the Massillon Tigers outscored opponents, 412–29, and rushed for nearly 3,000 yards (including 363 yards by Franklin) in one season. Franklin also passed for 699 yards, 21.2 yards per completion and 13 touchdowns. The team had major college football talent. He ran an offense that played eight future NCAA Division I players, including Steve Luke (Ohio State Buckeyes), Larry Harper (Miami Redskins, now RedHawks), Mike Mauger (Wisconsin Badgers, Kent State Golden Flashes) and Willie Spencer (World Football League). Franklin's older brothers, Walter and Ed, had won state championships with Massillon. In July 2007, he was inducted into the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame.College After graduating from Massillon, Franklin wore #9 for the Michigan Wolverines football program from 1972 to 1974, and he became known as "Michigan's first black quarterback" in mass media: "Every time I'd do an interview, they'd throw that tag on me. It became annoying," Franklin said. "Eventually, it went away. That's all I ever strived for." Franklin was a member of the Michigan teams coached by Bo Schembechler from 1971 to 1974 and was the starting quarterback from 1972 to 1974. Under Franklin’s leadership at quarterback, Michigan tied with Ohio State for three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles from 1972 to 1974 and finished with 30 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie. Franklin was a First-team All Big Ten quarterback in 1974 and led the team in passing and total offense every year from 1972 to 1974, becoming the second player at Michigan since Tom Harmon to accomplish that feat for three consecutive years. Franklin was voted team captain in 1974, was an Honorable Mention All American and finished sixth in the 1974 Heisman Trophy balloting. Franklin also won the 1974 Meyer Morton award, given by the M Club of Chicago for the football player show shows the greatest development and most promise as a result of spring practice and the 1972 John Maulbetsch Award, which is given to the freshman football candidate after spring practice on the basis of desire, character, capacity for leadership and future success both on and off the gridiron. Franklin is remembered for his role in the classic 1973 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game. When the teams met, both teams were unbeaten with Ohio State ranked No. 1, and Michigan No. 4. Michigan had outscored its opponents 320–58, Ohio State by a margin of 361–33. After an epic struggle, the game ended in a 10–10 tie. Ohio State had gone to the Rose Bowl the year before, which normally would have given Michigan the tie-breaker edge. After some deliberation, the Big Ten athletic directors picked the Buckeyes. There were several explanations including that Franklin broke his collarbone in the game,[ citation needed ] that the Wolverines failed to win on their home field, and that Ohio State had entered the game as the higher ranked team.Career passing statisticsCareer rushing statisticsProfessional career Drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 1975 NFL draft, Franklin converted to wide receiver for the 1975 NFL season. While Franklin was with Detroit, Greg Landry and Bill Munson were the Lions' quarterbacks. Franklin had a brief NFL career that lasted nine games and that totaled six catches over two years. After retiring from football, Franklin rose to vice president at King World Productions in New York City, a television distributor that produced Wheel of Fortune , Jeopardy! , and Oprah . He now lives in Santa Monica, California, and sells real estate. Franklin's son Kenny followed his father to Michigan and has aspired toward acting with appearances in Cosmopolitan and S.W.A.T. .See also Michigan Wolverines football statistical leaders ; Related Research Articles James Joseph Harbaugh is an American professional football coach and former quarterback who is the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 2015 to 2023, the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, Stanford University from 2007 to 2010, and the University of San Diego from 2004 to 2006. Harbaugh played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986 and in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons from 1987 to 2000, with his longest tenure (1987–1993) as a player with the Chicago Bears. Desmond Kevin Howard is an American former professional football wide receiver and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1991, and was selected fourth overall in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. Howard spent most of his career on special teams as a return specialist and holds the NFL single-season record for punt return yardage. With the Green Bay Packers, Howard was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXI after returning a kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown, the longest return in Super Bowl history at the time. He is the only special teams player to receive the award. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010. The Michigan Wolverines football team represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins in college football history. The team is known for its distinctive winged helmet, its fight song, its record-breaking attendance figures at Michigan Stadium, and its many rivalries, particularly its annual, regular season-ending game against Ohio State, known simply as "The Game," once voted as ESPN's best sports rivalry. Richard Max Leach is an American former college football player and professional baseball player. Richard Powers is a former running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns and a former University of Michigan Wolverines football co-captain. In the NFL, he had a brief career with the Browns during their final season before they relocated to become the Baltimore Ravens. His career ended due to being lost in the shuffle when the Browns moved to Baltimore and changed coaching staffs. In college, he set the Michigan football freshman rushing record that stood for fourteen seasons, and as a sophomore was the leading rusher for the team during Desmond Howard's Heisman Trophy-winning season. With the Wolverines, he was a member of three consecutive Big Ten Conference football championship teams. In high school, he was the Parade All-American star running back of the two-time Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) football championship team at Buchtel High School, where he has returned to coach baseball and football. Robert W. Timberlake is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) in 1965. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1962 to 1964. Gordon Granville Bell is an American former professional football player who was a running back, kickoff returner and punt returner who played for the Michigan Wolverines from 1973 to 1975, and professionally for the New York Giants (1976-1977) and St. Louis Cardinals (1978) of the National Football League (NFL). Richard Gale Rifenburg was an American football player and a pioneering television broadcaster for the forerunner to WIVB-TV in Buffalo. He played college football for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1944 and from 1946 to 1948. He was a consensus selection at end on the 1948 College Football All-America Team. Rifenburg played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Detroit Lions for one season in 1950. After retiring from football he settled in Buffalo and became a sports broadcaster. He worked as a color commentator and as a play-by-play announcer for the Buffalo Bulls. He hosted various television and radio sports shows and was eventually inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame. The 1964 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1964 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bump Elliott, the Wolverines compiled a 9–1 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship for the first time since 1950, and defeated Oregon State in the 1965 Rose Bowl by a score of 34–7. The 1964 Wolverines defeated four teams ranked in the Top 10 in the AP Poll by a combined score of 82 to 17 and finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in both the AP and Coaches' polls. Although no post-bowl polls were taken in the 1964 season, Oregon State coach Tommy Prothro opined after watching game film from the Rose Bowl that the 1964 Wolverines were "the greatest football team he has ever seen." The 1975 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1975 Big Ten Conference football season. In it seventh season under head coach Bo Schembechler, Michigan compiled an 8–2–2 record, outscored all opponents by a total of 324 to 130, and was ranked No. 8 in the final AP and UPI polls. The 1969 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1969 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled an 8–3 record, played in the 1970 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 9 in the final AP poll and No. 8 in the final UPI poll. The 1972 Rose Bowl was the 58th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Saturday, January 1. The Stanford Indians of the Pacific-8 Conference upset the undefeated and fourth-ranked Michigan Wolverines of the Big Ten Conference by a point, 13–12, repeating as Rose Bowl champions. The Player of the Game was Stanford quarterback Don Bunce. The 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1974 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 10–1 record, outscored opponents 324 to 75, and were ranked #3 in final AP Poll. Michigan won the first ten games of the 1974 season in convincing fashion, including blowout victories over Colorado (31-0), Navy (52-0), Minnesota (49-0), and Purdue (51-0). In the final game of the season, #2 Michigan faced #3 Ohio State. The Wolverines lost by a score of 12-10, as place-kicker Mike Lantry missed a last-minute field goal that would have given Michigan a victory. The 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1973 Big Ten Conference football season. In his fifth year as Michigan's head coach, Bo Schembechler led the team to a 10–0–1 record. It was Michigan's first undefeated season since 1948. The Wolverines outscored their opponents 330 to 68. Michigan was ranked No. 6 in both of the major post-season polls. Two other selectors, the National Championship Foundation and the Poling System, recognize Michigan as a co-national champion for the 1973 season. The 1972 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1972 Big Ten Conference football season. In their fourth season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 10–1 record, outscored opponents 264–57, and were ranked sixth in both final polls. Offensive guard Tom Coyle and defensive back Randy Logan were the team captains. The 1971 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1971 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled an 11–1 record, outscored opponents 421 to 83, won the Big Ten Conference championship, and were ranked No. 4 in the final UPI Poll and No. 6 in the final AP Poll. Defensive back Frank Gusich and center Guy Murdock were the team captains. Don Moorhead is a former Canadian Football League (CFL) quarterback. He was the starting quarterback for the BC Lions from 1971 to 1975 and for the Michigan Wolverines football team in 1969 and 1970. He set 24 football records at the University of Michigan, including most yards of total offense and most yards passing. The 1972 Big Ten Conference football season was the 77th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. The 1974 Big Ten Conference football season was the 79th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The 1975 Big Ten Conference football season was the 80th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1975 NCAA Division I football season.References 1 2 3 4 Frollo Jr., Joe (July 16, 2007). "Franklin stood out on talented Tigers". CantonRep.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2007.; ↑ "Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters". The Regents of the University of Michigan. August 25, 2003. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.; ↑ "Annual Michigan Football Bust - Master of Ceremonies". UNIVERSITY of MICHIGAN CLUB of GREATER DETROIT. Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved November 25, 2007.; 1 2 "1974 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. March 31, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2007.; ↑ "1974 & 1975 - 40th & 41st Awards: Archie Griffin, Ohio State Back". Heisman.com. 2007. Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.; ↑ "Versus Ohio State November 24, 1973". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 10, 2005. Retrieved November 24, 2007.; ↑ "Pasadena Tournament of Roses: Past Game Scores". Tournament of Roses. 2007. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.; ↑ "All-Time Players: Dennis Franklin". NFL Enterprises LLC. 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2007.; External links ; Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference · ; This page is based on this Wikipedia article ; Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.; Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Career highlights and awards
	First-team All-Big Ten (1973); 2× Second-team All-Big Ten (1972, 1974);
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:
Receptions:	6
Receiving yards:	125
	Stats at Pro Football Reference
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