The Terriers’ second-leading tackler in 2005 . . . Enters his senior season ranked 15th in school history with 231 career tackles . . . His 147 solo tackles rank 13th in the record book and he is 16th all-time with 84 assists . . . A big linebacker who can step up and stop the run . . . Has the size along with quickness and speed to be a big-time player . . .
2005: Finished second on the team to Jim Thurman with 72 tackles . . . Made a season-high 13 stops in the opener with Georgetown (Sept. 3) . . . Also recorded 11 tackles against Western Carolina (Nov. 5) . . . Had a third quarter interception against VMI (Oct. 15) . . . Named team Defensive Player of the Game against West Virginia (Sept. 10) after making seven tackles including five solo stops . . . Had three tackles for loss on the year . . . Has 13 career starts including eight as a junior . . .
2004: His team-best 116 tackles were 38 more than the next closest Terrier . . . Reached double figures in tackles in each of the final six games and in seven of the last eight . . . Posted a career-best 19 stops (13 solo), including one for a loss, against Furman (Nov. 13) . . . Received Wofford Defensive Player of the Week honors the following game at VMI (Nov. 20) . . . Had a key interception and 15-yard return to go with a forced fumble, fumble recovery and two tackles for a loss among 15 stops (11 solo) . . . Also had an 8-yard reception for a first down on a fake punt . . . Recorded back-to-back games of 17 and 14 tackles, respectively, against Western Carolina (Oct. 16) and Appalachian State (Oct. 23) . . . Had 10 solos among 12 tackles in the 38-17 win over The Citadel (Oct. 30) . . . Also reached double figures with 11 stops in a 56-21 victory vs. Chattanooga (Oct. 2) and 10 tackles in the 49-17 rout of Gardner-Webb (Nov. 6) . . . Recorded a tackle for a loss among seven stops at Georgia Southern (Sept. 11) . . . Forced a fumble and had a quarterback hurry to go with five tackles against Johnson C. Smith (Sept. 25) . . .
2003: Came on very strong during the Terriers’ playoff run as he recorded three tackles for a loss, including a sack, to go with an interception, a forced fumble and a broken-up pass in postseason action . . . His first career pick came in the 34-17 quarterfinal-round playoff win over Western Kentucky (Dec. 6) . . . Also had a pass breakup and a tackle for a loss among five stops in the contest . . . Forced a fumble and posted his first sack the previous week in the 31-10 opening-round victory over North Carolina A&T (Nov. 29) . . . Totaled three tackles that afternoon, including two behind the line of scrimmage . . . Had a season-high six stops in the 42-14 win at Chattanooga (Oct. 4) . . . Posted five solo tackles and a quarterback hurry in a 7-6 victory at Furman (Nov. 15) . . . Also had five stops in addition to blocking a kick in the 38-6 win over Western Carolina (Oct. 18) . . . Recovered a fumble to set up a Wofford touchdown while combining for three tackles in the 42-16 rout of The Citadel (Nov. 1) . . . Closed the year with four tackles in the semifinal-round playoff game at Delaware (Dec. 13) . . .
High School: Graduated from Jacksonville High in 2003 . . . A three-year starter at both linebacker and running back . . . A two-time all-conference and all-area selection . . . Totaled 108 tackles as a senior while leading his team in rushing with 1,200 yards . . . Team Most Valuable Player on defense as a junior when he topped the state with 11 fumble recoveries . . . Added 100 tackles . . . Helped lead his team to a conference championship his sophomore year . . . Also lettered in track and basketball . . . Led the track team to conference championships his sophomore and junior years . . .
Personal: Finance major . . . Born May 16, 1985 in Jacksonville, NC . . . Son of Carl and Christa Franklin.
Justin Franklin’s Career Statistics
Year Solo Asst Total TFL-Yds Sacks-Yds Int-Yds
2003 28 15 43 3-14 1-12 1-1
2004 80 36 116 4.5-11 0-0 1-15
2005 39 33 72 3-2 0-0 1-0
Career 147 84 231 10.5-27 1-12 3-16
