For James Franklin and Donald Driver, a 'Surreal' Signing Day
Few college football coaches have mentored fathers and their sons. Penn State's James Franklin will get that unique opportunity next season.
Cristian Driver, whose father Donald played 14 seasons for the Green Bay Packers, signed with Penn State's 2022 recruiting class Wednesday. Franklin served as Green Bay's receivers coach in 2005 and developed a bond with Driver in his year there. Now, Franklin will coach Driver's son at Penn State.
"This is kind of surreal to me, to be honest with you," Franklin said on Penn State's Signing Day live stream. "I've obviously known the family forever, having coached your dad at the Green Bay Packers. And I was just so impressed with dad and mom from the very beginning.
"Everybody talks about Donald's career as a football player. But your mom [Betina] and dad are two of the best, most impressive people I've ever been around. So to think that you have turned out as well as you have is no surprise."
Cristian Driver played receiver and defensive back at Liberty Christian High and is one of two players from Texas in Penn State's 2022 class. He was a two-time team MVP and three-time first-team all-state selection.
Cristian Driver is scheduled to play safety, though Franklin said the coaching staff still is "fighting over you." After committing to Penn State, Driver asked about playing receiver but later texted Franklin to say he trusted the defensive evaluation.
Cristian Driver made 137 tackles and broke up 11 passes over the past two seasons. Fittingly, Green Bay Packers safety Adrian Amos introduced Driver during Penn State's Signing Day ceremony. But Terry Smith, Penn State's safeties coach, called Driver "so talented" that he might start his career playing cornerback.
"Obviously, your football ability jumped off the film right away when we watched it," Franklin told Cristian Driver. "But to be sitting here and have the opportunity to coach your dad, and now be blessed enough to have the opportunity to coach you, is surreal to me. Mom and dad, I give you my word, I will pour my heart and soul into your son."
Like Franklin, Donald Driver became emotional at the prospect of Franklin coaching his son.
"To coach me, and then to coach my son, is truly amazing," Driver said on the live stream. "... Thank you for believing in him and believing in what he can bring to your organization."
"We all got emotional," Franklin added later. "Mom and dad got emotional talking about that. The fact that they feel strongly enough to trust their son to not go down the street, but go far away and come to Penn State and play for me, and be able to coach dad and now son, is really special."
Penn State signed 23 players in its 2022 recruiting class, which ranks sixth in Sports Illustrated's national top 25.
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