{{Short description|American football player (born 1988)}} {{other people}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Jerry Franklin | image = Jerry Franklin.JPG | caption = Franklin with the Denver Broncos in 2012 | current_team = | number = 42, 53, 59 | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|1|10|mf=y}} | birth_place = Sunset, Arkansas, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lbs = 245 | high_school = Marion (AR) | college = Arkansas | undraftedyear = 2012 | pastteams = * Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2012}})* * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2012}})* * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2012}})* * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2013}}) * Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2014}}) * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2014}}) * Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2016}})* | status = | highlights = * 2× Second-team All-SEC (2010, 2011) | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 12 | pfr = FranJe00 }} '''Jerry Franklin''' (born January 10, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Franklin played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
==Early life== Franklin attended Marion High School, where he was named the Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year and the 6A East Back of the Year as a senior. Considered a three-star recruit by ''Rivals.com'', Franklin was listed No. 38 among safety prospects in the nation.<ref>{{cite web | title=Rivals.com safeties 2007 | url=http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1494 | work=Rivals.com | publisher= | date=January 25, 2007 | access-date=June 5, 2009 | archive-date=August 25, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825184037/http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1494 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==College career== thumb|left|150px|Franklin at Arkansas Originally recruited as a defensive back, Franklin moved from safety to linebacker during his redshirt season in 2007. Franklin has started at multiple positions for the Razorbacks, including weakside linebacker and middle linebacker. In his freshman season, Franklin recorded a team-high 87 tackles, and had two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was named to ''Sporting News''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Freshman All-American team,<ref>{{cite news|title=Sporting News' college football All-Freshman Team |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=497453 |work=Sporting News |date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418075933/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=497453 |archive-date=April 18, 2009 }}</ref> as well as ''College Football News''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Second-team.<ref name="CFN">{{cite web | last=Cirminiello | first=Richard | title=2008 CFN All-Freshman Second & HM Teams | url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/820618.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215073828/http://cfn.scout.com/2/820618.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 15, 2008 | date=December 11, 2008 | work=College Football News }}</ref> During a time when Arkansas's defense struggled with consecutive 12th-place finishes in the SEC in total yards allowed in 2008 and 2009, Franklin was a mainstay of the defense. In his sophomore season he again led the team in tackles with 94, and also had five tackles for loss and one and a half sacks. He recovered two fumbles on the year, returning one of them 85 yards for a touchdown against Texas A&M. Franklin finished his career as a four-year starter for the Hogs. He led Arkansas in tackles in each of the past four years, finishing with 100 or more tackles in his junior and senior seasons- 101 in 2011 and 100 in 2010.
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 1 3/8 | weight = 242 | dash = 4.63 | ten split = 1.57 | twenty split = 2.72 | shuttle = 4.38 | cone drill = 6.93 | vertical = 37.5 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 3 | bench = 15 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=69934&DraftYear=2012 |title=Jerry Franklin College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 29, 2026}}</ref> }}
===Denver Broncos=== On April 28, 2012, Franklin was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos.
===Carolina Panthers=== After being waived by the Broncos before the start of the regular season, Franklin was added to the Carolina Panthers' practice squad on October 17, 2012. He was released from the Panthers practice squad on November 13, 2012.
===Dallas Cowboys=== Franklin was signed to the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on November 14, 2012. He later chose to leave the squad and join the Chicago Bears' 53 man roster.
===Chicago Bears=== Franklin was signed by the Chicago Bears on December 11, 2012 to a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/bears-gould-season-215016507--nfl.html|title=Bears' Gould out for season|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=December 11, 2012|archive-date=December 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226170356/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bears-gould-season-215016507--nfl.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> On August 30, 2013, Franklin was released by the Bears.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-cut-17-players-still-have-five-to-go/24b878db-ac76-463c-b766-ef4adfb0ae1c|title=Bears cut 17 players, still have five to go|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=August 30, 2013|access-date=August 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901031356/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-cut-17-players-still-have-five-to-go/24b878db-ac76-463c-b766-ef4adfb0ae1c|archive-date=September 1, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> On September 1, he was added to the Bears' practice squad.<ref>{{cite news|last=Biggs|first=Brad|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-bass-practice-squad-20130901,0,6768348.story|title=Bears sign rookie DE Bass; QB Johnson joins practice squad|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=September 1, 2013|access-date=September 1, 2013}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on October 18 after D. J. Williams was placed on injured reserve.<ref name="KFFL">{{cite web|url=http://www.kffl.com/player/26158/nfl/news/jerry-franklin |title=Jerry Franklin |publisher=kffl.com |access-date=December 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229175532/http://www.kffl.com/player/26158/nfl/news/jerry-franklin |archive-date=December 29, 2014 }}</ref>
===Kansas City Chiefs=== Franklin signed with the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad on September 1, 2014. He was promoted to the active roster on September 9, 2014. He was waived by the team on November 8, 2014.<ref name="KFFL"/>
===New Orleans Saints=== Franklin was signed to the New Orleans Saints' practice squad on November 28, 2014. He was promoted to the active roster on December 26, 2014.<ref name="KFFL"/>
===Detroit Lions=== On February 11, 2016, Franklin signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider-short/article-1/Lions-sign-linebacker-Jerry-Franklin/cbc8d7e0-16ce-4134-acc7-5b2ca68b4731 |title=Lions sign linebacker Jerry Franklin |work=Detroit Lions |first=Tim |last=Twentyman |date=February 11, 2016 |access-date=February 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212080752/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider-short/article-1/Lions-sign-linebacker-Jerry-Franklin/cbc8d7e0-16ce-4134-acc7-5b2ca68b4731 |archive-date=February 12, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=30724&SPID=2419&DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=1139021&Q_SEASON=2008 Arkansas Razorbacks bio] *{{commons category-inline}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Franklin, Jerry}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:American football linebackers Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football players Category:Carolina Panthers players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:Dallas Cowboys players Category:Denver Broncos players Category:Kansas City Chiefs players Category:People from Marion, Arkansas Category:Players of American football from Arkansas Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:Detroit Lions players Category:Sportspeople from Crittenden County, Arkansas