University of Pennsylvania Athletics

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Eric Franklin is in his fourth season as Cornerbacks Coach at Penn in 2024.

The Quakers wrapped up a 6-4 overall record in 2023, going 3-4 in one of the most competitive Ivy campaigns in conference history, in which Penn had a shot to play for an Ivy championship up until the final whistle of the penultimate weekend of the year. The Red and Blue began the season with back-to-back road victories over Colgate (20-6) and Bucknell (37-21) and rounded out the unbeaten non-conference slate with a 42-39 overtime win over Georgetown at Franklin Field. Penn knocked off Columbia, 20-17, and took down Yale, the reigning Ancient Eight champs, for a second straight year, 27-17. The Quakers won on Homecoming by defeating visiting Cornell, 23-8, to hold onto the Trustees' Cup for the second year in a row. With Franklin's guidance, a pair of defensive backs—Shiloh Means and Kendren Smith—garnered All-Ivy honors. Means finished with a team-leading three interceptions, tied for third-most in the Ivy League. For the second straight year, Smith led Penn with eight pass breakups and had 58 total tackles.

Penn again dominated on the defensive side of the ball in 2023, among the nation's leaders in multiple team statistical categories. The Quakers ranked 12th in rushing defense (102.5 ypg), 13th in total defense (304 ypg), 19th in sacks per game (2.60), 19th in passing efficiency defense (115.94) and 26th in scoring defense (21.7 ppg).

In 2022, Penn completed a very successful season, going 8-2 overall with a 5-2 record in Ivy play. Recording the program's most victories since 2010, the Quakers ended the year with a second-place finish in the Ivy standings. Penn won its first six games, going 6-0 to start a season for the first time since 2003. Victories included a double-overtime, 23-17 thriller against Dartmouth on national television, a 34-14 home win over Columbia, a 20-13 homecoming victory against eventual Ivy champion Yale and a come-from-behind, 20-19 win at #22 Princeton to close out the year. Senior defensive back Kendren Smith was one of three Penn defenders to earn Ivy Defensive Player of the Week honors during the year. Smith was also named FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Columbia. Four members of the defense earned All-Ivy selections including Smith who was named a first-team honoree.

Franklin's work with the defense helped them rank in the top 15 in several FCS categories during the 2022 campaign - No. 2 in rush defense (89.2 ypg), No. 4 in sacks (3.4 per game), No. 4 in fourth down defense percentage (28.6 percent), No. 4 in first downs (176), No. 6 in red zone defense (69.7 percent), No. 6 in scoring defense (19.7 ppg), No. 12 in tackles for loss (7.5 per game) and No. 13 in total defense (322.8 ypg).. 

In 2021, Penn went 3-7 with non-conference victories at Bucknell and at home versus Lehigh. The Quakers defeated Bucknell, 20-0, and it marked Penn's first shutout since the 2009 team capped a perfect Ivy League season with a 34-0 win over Cornell. The Red and Blue scored an Ancient Eight win at home versus Brown thanks to defeating the Bears, 45-17. During the year, Isaiah Malcome was honored as the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week on October 11 and Garrett Morris was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week on November 1. Seven Quakers brought home All-Ivy honors, highlighted by Prince Emili and Brian O'Neill bringing home first-team accolades. 

Franklin comes to Philadelphia after serving as a linebackers coach at Washington & Lee for the past two seasons. During his first season, W&L led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in scoring defense (24.7 ppg) and ranked second in both rush defense (135.8 ypg) and total defense (369.8 ypg.). Last autumn, he oversaw a Generals defense that led the ODAC in rush defense (93.5 ypg) rand ranked second in both interceptions (15) and sacks (28).

In his time with Washington & Lee, Franklin coached four players that earned VaSID All-State honors.

Prior to his tenure in Lexington, Franklin served as a wide receivers coach at Johns Hopkins during the 2017 season.  With the Blue Jays, he mentored a pair of First Team All-Centennial Conference selections, including the conference player of the year.

Franklin has also served as a graduate assistant coach at Wagner from 2015-16, working with the cornerbacks and linebackers while earning a Master of Arts in higher education and leadership organizations. 

His coaching experience also includes a stop at Archbishop Curley High School (2013-15), where he coached the wide receivers and tight ends, along with serving as the strength and conditioning coach and eventually, defensive coordinator.

A 2012 graduate of the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Franklin was a four-year letterwinner for the Terrapins football team.  He appeared in 40 career games at safety and he started 25 of those contests. As a junior, he led the team in solo tackles (64) and total tackles (106). During his final year on campus at Maryland, he made 48 tackles, had six pass breakups and recovered one fumble. He was an ACC Honor Roll selection for the fall and spring terms of 2012.