Why Kamarion Franklin Is One of America's Best Defensive Lineman
Evaluating high school football players can become redundant. Watch the tape, see someone win with traits and athleticism, and try to find three things to write about.
Therefore, when you come across a different type of player, you must treat them differently. Everyone knows defensive end Kamarion Franklin is a good football player; he's a five-star on three different recruiting services.
The important question is why. Why did he set his school's sack record? Why could he be successful in college? Why is every southeast program in high pursuit of someone from Mississippi, a state that doesn't generally pump out premier talent?
The answer isn't that he's 6-4.5 and 260 lbs., though that certainly helps. It isn't that he's an impressive athlete for his size, and it isn't even that he is a smart football player.
Franklin has become one of the best defenders in his recruiting class because he melds all these things into a complete package. Franklin showcases his power, athleticism, and smarts all in one play at points, a rarity in high school but necessary in college.
He plays 5-tech for Lake Cormant High School, located one hour from Ole Miss. Franklin looks like a man amongst boys, dominating competition wherever he goes.
College coaches value players that can win pass rush reps in multiple ways. Franklin already has a go-to move; the swim move. He puts the tackle inside by punching below the shoulder and then rips his inside arm over the tackle to gain leverage and seal the lane.
It has become a reflex at this point, which is encouraging since most defensive ends only have one move in high school; run through the tackle. While Franklin can do that, he opts to win in translatable ways.
While he doesn't have overly impressive bend, Franklin has strong short-area quickness and can shrink space when playing against outside zone. Running backs often capture the corner on him, but he quickly breaks down and redirects the back inside before making the tackle.
The No. 1 thing that jumps off the tape is his relentless nature. Franklin stays with the play and fights downhill through the whistle. While it sounds like a certainty, not many fight full-force every play, making those that do special.
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