FAYETTEVILLE — He used to be more of a talker and an occasional visitor in Bobby Petrino’s doghouse.
They went together before.
Jerry Franklin’s football talent always got him back on the field, but these days the senior from Marion is a more cautious talker and an undisputed leader of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Despite the fact he has one of those motors that is always on overdrive and he truly loves contact, the middle linebacker was too often remembered for getting tossed out of the 2009 game with Georgia.
A game the Hogs lost without him but could have won with him.
It was a wake-up call for the guy who had been calling the defensive signals since he was a red-shirt freshman.
“Last year I took a hard look at myself and decided I wanted to be a better example for the young players,” Franklin said. “Growing up is a learning process, and I’ve learned a lot under Coach Petrino and the staff.”
Franklin was voted a team captain last season but missed the coin toss for some of the early games for reasons never made public.
Wednesday night, Franklin was again voted a team captain and plans on being front and center with his teammates for every coin toss this season.
“It is an honor,” Franklin said quietly.
Franklin has started 37 of 38 games as a Razorback, and he’s recorded 281 tackles, including 21.5 for losses.
He isn’t currently ranked in the UA record book for career tackles, but if he repeats last year’s team-leading 100, he would jump into a tie for second with Ken Hamlin. Tony Bua is the career leader with 408. (Defensive stats used to be up to the previous staff and not the statistic crew.)
Franklin doesn’t worry about personal stats, and he’s set only one goal for this season.
“Do whatever it takes to win,” he said.
When asked if it bothered him that the Razorbacks were voted No. 14 in the preseason coaches poll behind South Carolina and Texas A&M, teams the Hogs beat last season, he was unconcerned.
“I haven’t been paying attention to that,” he said. “Preseason doesn’t mean anything. It is the postseason that counts, and that’s what you remember.”
Franklin is part of a special senior class, a bunch of unforgettable's who took on the challenge of a new head coach and an overhaul of the thinking and not only survived but flourished.
From 5-7 (three losses were by a field goal or less) to 8-5 and 10-3 with the program’s first Bowl Championship Series appearance is this senior class’ legacy.
“The 2008 class, we’ve been together a long time, played a lot of football together and learned a lot,” he said. “We know each other and depend on each other.
“That’s why we feel like we can go out with another great season. We believe in each other.”
Franklin said he also understands the defense is being counted on heavily this season.
A year ago, its job was to limit teams to enough points that Ryan Mallett could pass for more. This year, the offense is replacing three starters on the line and Mallett is in the NFL.
“We’re up for that challenge,” Franklin said. “We have learned what is expected, and we’ve learned how to meet those expectations.”
Franklin, who is still a better quote than he thinks but now it is more analytical without edginess, sat diligently through the UA media day Saturday without complaint despite having 18 interview requests.
“I admit, I’d rather be in the weight room or watching film or practicing,” he said. “Those things are going to make you better. They give you a better chance to get to another BCS game, but I understand this is necessary, too.”
Jerry Franklin, who has graduated, may not be the talker he once was, but he’s seldom if ever in the doghouse anymore because he’s grown as a football player and a person.
Sports, Pages 25 on 08/07/2011