Top 60 Countdown: No. 10, OL Orlando Franklin

We've hit No. 10 on our countdown of the Top 60 players at Miami. And what better guy to kickoff the final stage of our list than junior offensive lineman Orlando Franklin? Next to Allen Bailey, Franklin is probably the most physically imposing guy on the team. The big, surly Jamaican has always had the physical gifts to succeed at Miami. He just usually hasn't had the stamina to remain effective for four quarters. Will he be that devoted on the field leader in 2009 now that he's lost some weight and the Canes desperately need him to be? We'll see.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '06: Most people forget (I did), but Franklin was originally a member of UM's 2006 signing class. Because of an academic situation, he didn't get into UM until 2007. Originally from Jamaica, Franklin moved to South Florida from Canada as a high school junior and became an instant star at Delray Beach Atlantic High. He was rated the country's 23rd best offenisve tackle by Rivals .com and picked UM over Georgia, Florida and Florida State.

> What he's done as a Cane: Franklin played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2007 and started three times at left guard, eventually sharing the team's Rookie of the Year Award with Graig Cooper after grading out at 95 percent with 27 pancake blocks. Last year as a sophomore, he started 11 of 13 UM's 13 games at left guard, regaining his starting job after losing it momentarily. This spring, he saw some action at right tackle during practices, but started at left guard in the spring game. In testing, he lifted 375 pounds in the bench press -- seventh best on the team (2nd among OL).

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Franklin expects more from himself in 2009. So does everyone else. What we saw last week during a press conference in the Edgerrin James room on UM's campus was a slimmer, more focused version of Franklin, who has lost 17 pounds from the start of last season and is now 6-7, 318. That should help him stay in the game longer than he did last year, when (even though he was playing in a rotation) Franklin often tired by the fourth quarter. The Hurricanes are going to need him to be more of an iron man with the lack of depth and experience on this team. What I don't expect at this point is to ever see Franklin at right tackle. Miami coaches have said they want to keep the left side of the line "intact." Can't blame them -- that's Jacory Harris' blindside. If Franklin stays healthy, he and left tackle Jason Fox should have an extremely productive year. If not, UM's line could be in a heap of trouble.

Comments

[Jonathan]

Let's hope he and everyone else exceeds expectations...

[formulacane]

If the O-line can stay healthy, they can possibly gel in to a solid line to keep the pressure off Harris and open up the running game.

[Daryel]

firstttttttttttttttttttt..........

[Canesjunkie]

Let's hope the weightloss helps. He looks like he's dying in this picture.

[Cane4Life]

Great job with the series Manny. If the O-line can keep Jacory upright this team will suprise many pundintz. We can't have a opening night in Tallahasse, like what happened to Kyle Wright a few years back where he got sacked 9 times. I have an idea about the rest of the top 10, but just wonder where you have them placed.

[jack]

THAT LINE IS SWISS CHEESE

[jack]

I'M GOING TO PREDICT THAT COOPER IS #1 AND THAT IS WHY MIAMI SUCKS. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN MCOY AND LOOK WHO IS IN THE NFL. NONE OF THESE KIDS ARE GETTING DEVELOPED UNDER SHANNON. WE CAN'T HAVE ALL THESE BUSTS. COOPER IS NO HOME RUN THREAT WHEN IS THE LAST TIME U SAW A RUNNING BACK FOR MIAMI GO 70+ ON A RUN LIKE THEY USED TO. I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE RECRUIT RANKINS MUCH BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE SIGNING 3 STARS AND WE CAN'T COACH 5 STARS WHEN WE GET THEM. MIAMI WILL NOT EVEN SMELL A BCS BOWL UNTIL THEY GET THEIR OWN STADIUM ON CAMPUS AND SHAYLALA GETS OFF HER BUTT AND SHELLS OUT A LITTLE CASH FOR A QUALITY COACH. I HATE URBAN MEYER WITH A PASSION BUT HE IS KICKING MIAMI'S ASS ON THE FIELD AND OFF. I WOULD TAKE HIM IN A HEARTBEAT OVER SHANNON.

[CaneFan4Life]

jack if you feel this way about Coach Shannon and his players, why are you waisting your time and effort leaving long pointless message for? In my opinion, you sound like someone that really wanted to play football and I literally mean, wanted to play the game extremely bad, but do to an unknown disability, you were limited to cheerleading, therefore you spend your day now, blaming other people for your failures. Jack, the U forgives U

[CaneFan4Life]

Also who cares who's #1, I think its exciting being able to log onto the internet and find out something new about a hurricane player that i didn't know yesterday or the day before. In my opinion every player on the roster is #1 and the sports writers are entitle to their own opinion, so with that being said Jack, the U still forgive U

[Canesjunkie]

5 championships....no campus stadium. USC doesn't have a campus stadium either.

[south fla talent]

i cant remember a d1 team in a major conference playing as many freshmen and true freshmen as the canes did last season.that being said they were 1 win away from playing for the acc championship,and by the way they absolutley schooled the acc champion vt.randy is doing fine.he might not be the best game day coach but thats what your coordinators are there for.if anything randy has made poor decisions in selecting his assistants but i think he has the right guys this year.in my opinion the best hs football talent in the country is right here in south florida and randy has an in with these familys and coaches wich gives him a huge recruiting advantage,no way i would trade that for urban meyer

[Gulfstream Blue]

The O line in my opionion is the key to success. Run the rock and you can pass when you want to, not when you have to.Also the defence is off the field and fresh.
WE should have a very good O line this year,
plenty of experience.
These guys stay healthy we win 10 games.

[In Randy We Trust!]

I like the new name for our stadium! Bring em to the Shark Tank!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There will be blood in these waters come Sept. 17th, PAYBACK! Can't wait! I'll be in sec 135 succa's!!!! Jack, you can come and say hi.....

[The canes are going to lower the boom]

JAck- Um has had comparitively bad weight room and athletic facilities and played in a run down stadium for 70 years. 9 NCs (5 won) later, what do we have?

How many NCs do the Oregon Ducks with those Plasma Tvs all over the locker rooms have? I fact, how many NCS do the turds have?

All you haters have very bad memories. Those gaturds who blog here as well:

remember:

1992, 1993, 1994-1999, 2000. We have heard all this before: "canes are done, canes are done, blah blah blah."

But with the almost limitless pool of talent down in the tri county area, plus other florida talent, it's just a matter of time.

[aes07]

CanesJunkie, "5 championships....no campus stadium. USC doesn't have a campus stadium either." Technically that's true, but the difference is twofold. 1) The Coliseum is across the street from campus; 2) USC has played there since 1923. That's their home, the same way the Orange Bowl was ours.

Having our own stadium would help a lot.

[outkast305]

stadiums dont win championships. even if we do get a stadium, the question is... ARE THE FANS GONNA SHOW UP?

[atl cane fan]

All this UM talk is really getting me excited bout the season; man I can’t wait. Bring on the noles and who else may follow we need all the practice we can get for Jan.

[aes07]

Well, it'll probably be smaller than the OB and Joe Robbie so it'll seem as though the fans are "showing up."

[AtlCane]

2009 preaseason power rankings Miami ranked 22

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/9893592/2009-preseason-power-rankings

[aes07]

BTW, I love the Canes and will always support them no matter where they play (but I would love them that much more if they had an on-campus stadium). Personally I think Shannon is a good coach who could be great one day. He just needs some more time.

"The Canes are going to lower the Boom" makes some good points

[Canesjunkie]

I don't think the O-line will be very good. I think Franklin and Fox are decent players, but the rest of the line is questionable.

We'll find out about this team from week 1 because we really didn't move the ball very well against FSU last year.

I'm hoping we're decent because that OU defense looks great.

[GvilleCane]

The stadium doesn't matter, it's who's playing in it. The canes have reloaded and it's going to show in wins and losses this season. In just about one month the critics will began to eat their words.

[CaneInThe303]

Manny--I think you meant to call him a big, burly Jamaican, not a big, surly one... You don't want to piss off a huge dude like that.

[Canes Fan/FAMU ALUM]

The Canes are built for success, come on look at the Defensive starters.

DE.Moncur, DT.Forston,DT.Bailey,DE.Robinson/Ojomo.
CB. Grant (Yeah I think DVD stinks), CB.B Harris (Or maybe because Im a BTW Tornando alum). LB. Spence, Adkins, & McCarthy backed by A. Brown and J. Futch.

I think this is a pretty special group

[Unicane]

Cane 303, that's a good point! I thought that description seemed a little odd. Who cares if he's surly anyways he just needs to block.

[umhurricane23]

The fact that many players are coming out to be busts is not Shannon's fault. Remember, this is the same Randy Shannon who had maintained a top 5 defense for 6 years straight!

[canelock94]

Amen bout time someone no what there talking about......Let's go Randy Shannon all the way back to the top!!!!