Redshirt freshman running back Jonathan Franklin is no stranger to competition.
A three-year varsity player at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles alongside talented running backs such as USC’s Stafon Johnson, Franklin has gotten used to fighting for playing time and a space on the depth chart.
So the fact that Franklin finds himself in yet another battle does not bother him in the least bit.
In fact, he welcomes it.
“This is nothing new,” Franklin said. “Everyday is just competing. I grew up on stuff like this so it’s natural.”
Currently, the Bruins have five running backs who potentially could see playing time this season: Franklin, redshirt junior Christian Ramirez, sophomore Derrick Coleman, redshirt freshman Milton Knox, and freshman Damien Thigpen.
Ramirez entered training camp as the No.1 running back on the depth chart, but suffered a high-ankle sprain that may keep him on the sidelines through the opening game against San Diego State.
Ramirez’s absence has allowed for the others, particularly Franklin, to flourish.
Since Ramirez went down, Franklin has moved into the No. 1 spot and is in line to start for the Bruins on Sept.5.
After sitting out all of last season, Franklin came into Spring Practice and Fall Camp determined to show the coaches his ability and that he is capable of being the Bruins’ lead back.
“(My mentality was to) get better, of course, and just compete for the number one spot and just show the coaches that they can rely on me and trust me out there,” Franklin said. “Just show them that I can lead this team and can be the number one guy for this upcoming season.”
Franklin admitted last season was a difficult one for him.
After playing a crucial role on his high school team, it was not easy for him to come to UCLA only to sit out the entire season utilizing his redshirt.
“I think any freshman would be disappointed by that,” Franklin said. “Everybody wants to come in and play, and come in and make a change here. But everything happens for a reason.”
Franklin said that he feels he has become a more complete player as a result of sitting out one year, and thus far he has dazzled the coaching staff.
In the Bruins’ scrimmage game in mid August, Franklin rushed for 99 yards on six carries, including a 60-yard touchdown run.
Another running back who has done well so far in camp is Coleman, the only current Bruin running back to play last season. As a freshman he was the second-leading rusher for the Bruins with 284 yards, and scored two touchdowns.
For Coleman, the experience he gained by playing last season has helped him in his second training camp.
“Basically I just know how the game speed goes and I try to practice the tempo and try to get everybody up to that tempo,” Coleman said. “We practice to be perfect and we want to go into the game perfect.”
Coleman admits that there is competition at every position in football, and that ultimately the competition not only makes each individual better, but improves the team as a whole.
“A starter could lose his job, a second string can go to first, it doesn’t matter,” Coleman said. “What you do is you gotta make yourself better and bring the team up. Competition brings out the best in everybody.”
Also in the mix is true freshman Damien Thigpen.
The speedy running back from Tennessee is determined to help contribute to a UCLA offense that is shaping up to have speed at many of the skill positions.
He too believes that competition for carries will work toward benefiting the Bruins on offense.
“Definitely, because you have to take advantage of the plays you get,” Thigpen said. “Every one you get you got to make the best out of it.”
Coach Rick Neuheisel said that due to the nature of the position, it is hard to have one running back play every snap. Therefore, Neuheisel sees the positive in competition and having more than one able player to run the ball.
“We have a lot of guys that are capable of going in there and doing good things,” Neuheisel said. “It’s like putting another pitcher in the game: it’s just another changeup.”
After watching the Bruins struggle to run the football last season (the Bruins ranked 116 of 119 Division 1-A teams in rushing), Franklin believes this season will be different.
“(I gained) just motivation from last year,” Franklin said. “One hundred sixteen last year. Just motivation. We have more dudes out here who love the game of football or who want to play football, who want to be out there and pound dudes. We came a long way with our O-line, we came a long way with our offense, so we’re going to be a lot better.”
Redshirt freshman running back Jonathan Franklin is no stranger to competition.
A three-year varsity player at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles alongside talented running backs such as USC’s Stafon Johnson, Franklin has gotten used to fighting for playing time and a space on the depth chart.
So the fact that Franklin finds himself in yet another battle does not bother him in the least bit.
In fact, he welcomes it.
“This is nothing new,” Franklin said. “Everyday is just competing. I grew up on stuff like this so it’s natural.”
Currently, the Bruins have five running backs who potentially could see playing time this season: Franklin, redshirt junior Christian Ramirez, sophomore Derrick Coleman, redshirt freshman Milton Knox, and freshman Damien Thigpen.
Ramirez entered training camp as the No.1 running back on the depth chart, but suffered a high-ankle sprain that may keep him on the sidelines through the opening game against San Diego State.
Ramirez’s absence has allowed for the others, particularly Franklin, to flourish.
Since Ramirez went down, Franklin has moved into the No. 1 spot and is in line to start for the Bruins on Sept.5.
After sitting out all of last season, Franklin came into Spring Practice and Fall Camp determined to show the coaches his ability and that he is capable of being the Bruins’ lead back.
“(My mentality was to) get better, of course, and just compete for the number one spot and just show the coaches that they can rely on me and trust me out there,” Franklin said. “Just show them that I can lead this team and can be the number one guy for this upcoming season.”
Franklin admitted last season was a difficult one for him.
After playing a crucial role on his high school team, it was not easy for him to come to UCLA only to sit out the entire season utilizing his redshirt.
“I think any freshman would be disappointed by that,” Franklin said. “Everybody wants to come in and play, and come in and make a change here. But everything happens for a reason.”
Franklin said that he feels he has become a more complete player as a result of sitting out one year, and thus far he has dazzled the coaching staff.
In the Bruins’ scrimmage game in mid August, Franklin rushed for 99 yards on six carries, including a 60-yard touchdown run.
Another running back who has done well so far in camp is Coleman, the only current Bruin running back to play last season. As a freshman he was the second-leading rusher for the Bruins with 284 yards, and scored two touchdowns.
For Coleman, the experience he gained by playing last season has helped him in his second training camp.
“Basically I just know how the game speed goes and I try to practice the tempo and try to get everybody up to that tempo,” Coleman said. “We practice to be perfect and we want to go into the game perfect.”
Coleman admits that there is competition at every position in football, and that ultimately the competition not only makes each individual better, but improves the team as a whole.
“A starter could lose his job, a second string can go to first, it doesn’t matter,” Coleman said. “What you do is you gotta make yourself better and bring the team up. Competition brings out the best in everybody.”
Also in the mix is true freshman Damien Thigpen.
The speedy running back from Tennessee is determined to help contribute to a UCLA offense that is shaping up to have speed at many of the skill positions.
He too believes that competition for carries will work toward benefiting the Bruins on offense.
“Definitely, because you have to take advantage of the plays you get,” Thigpen said. “Every one you get you got to make the best out of it.”
Coach Rick Neuheisel said that due to the nature of the position, it is hard to have one running back play every snap. Therefore, Neuheisel sees the positive in competition and having more than one able player to run the ball.
“We have a lot of guys that are capable of going in there and doing good things,” Neuheisel said. “It’s like putting another pitcher in the game: it’s just another changeup.”
After watching the Bruins struggle to run the football last season (the Bruins ranked 116 of 119 Division 1-A teams in rushing), Franklin believes this season will be different.
“(I gained) just motivation from last year,” Franklin said. “One hundred sixteen last year. Just motivation. We have more dudes out here who love the game of football or who want to play football, who want to be out there and pound dudes. We came a long way with our O-line, we came a long way with our offense, so we’re going to be a lot better.”