Career: Played in 50 games, started 33 times and finished career with 156 tackles, eight interceptions (for 205 yards in returns), 26 passes defended, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble … App State went 54-12 in his five seasons, as he was part of just the fifth class in college football history to win five bowl games and four conference championships, joining five-year classes from Nebraska (1969-73), Alabama (1975-79), Florida State (1991-95) and Marshall (1988-2002) … With 26 passes defended over his last three seasons, ranked in the top 20 nationally during that span and second in the Sun Belt … Sun Belt’s No. 6 NFL Talent, according to Lindy’s.
2019: Started in 12 of his 13 game appearances, including nine straight starts following an early season injury … Posted a career-high 52 tackles, had one pass among his career-high 11 passes defended and made one fumble recovery (in the Sun Belt Championship Game) … Had one interception (with a 20-yard return to set up a short touchdown) and a career-high four PBUs in the regular-season finale at Troy … Broke up three passes in the 20-15 win at South Carolina … Had a season-high eight tackles against Louisiana in the Sun Belt Championship Game and recovered a second-half fumble forced by fellow senior Noel Cook ... Jim Thorpe Award watch list.
2018: All-Sun Belt first team at safety and the league’s highest-graded safety by PFF College … Played in all 13 games and started 10 at free safety … Tied for the team lead and tied for second in the Sun Belt with four interceptions (that produced 113 return yards). Added 51 tackles, five pass breakups (for nine passes defended), 2.0 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry … Scored his first career touchdown on a 26-yard interception return against Georgia State and finished that game with two interceptions … According to PFF College, allowed just 0.31 yards per snap in coverage, and passer rating when targeted of 38.4 was the best regardless of position in the Sun Belt … Delivered the initial hit at Coastal Carolina on a safety that gave App State a two-possession lead early in the fourth quarter … Returned an interception 47 yards to the Charlotte goalline and also intercepted a pass a week later against Gardner-Webb … Made seven tackles in the regular season win against Louisiana .... Athlon Sports preseason All-Sun Belt fourth team
2017: Appeared in all 13 games, starting the final 10 at free safety following a season-ending injury to Josh Thomas ... Recorded 49 total tackles (31 solo) to rank seventh on the team while also posting three interceptions, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and 2.5 tackles for loss … Returned interception 26 yards to set up App State’s first touchdown in the opener at Georgia … Had four total tackles and one interception in the 34-0 bowl victory over Toledo … Posted a career-high nine tackles and intercepted a pass at ULM … Had a 28-yard fumble return in the regular season finale vs. Louisiana … Recorded five solo tackles in a 45-31 win over New Mexico State. Tallied two pass breakups and one forced fumble in the same game to help drive the team to a victory.
2016: Appeared in 11 games, making his first career start against Old Dominion at free safety in a 31-7 win … Recorded four total tackles on the season. ..Played often on special teams.
2015: Redshirted
High School: Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals.com ... Named first-team all-district as a “utility player” as a senior in 2014 ... Excelled on both offense and defense during his three-year high school career, highlighted by 39 receptions for 767 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense and five interceptions that he returned for a total of 159 yards on defense ... Racked up 1,607 all-purpose yards during his prep career, incluing 755 as a senior (340 rushing, 232 receiving, 23 kick return, 41 punt return and 119 interception return) and 666 as a junior (402 receiving, 108 kick return, 116 punt return and 40 interception return) ... Also played some quarterback as a senior and threw one touchdown pass ... Coached by Justin Taylor.
Personal: Full name is Desmond Dwan Franklin.
