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Sam Franklin Jr.
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Samuel Lamar Franklin Jr. (born February 2, 1996) is an American professional football safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Temple Owls and was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Key Information
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Early life
[edit]Franklin grew up in Crystal River, Florida and attended Citrus High School, where he played wide receiver, safety and linebacker on the football team. He was recruited by the University of Massachusetts, but failed to qualify academically. He enrolled at East Coast Prep, where he played alongside future Panthers teammate Myles Hartsfield for a post-graduate year to improve his grades and test scores.[1]
College career
[edit]Franklin was a member of the Temple Owls for four seasons, starting as a defensive back before moving to linebacker. As a senior, he was the team's third-leading tackler with 68 tackles and had 7.5 tackles for loss.[2] Franklin finished his collegiate career with 194 tackles including 24 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in 53 games played.[3]
Professional career
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2+1⁄8 in (1.88 m) |
204 lb (93 kg) |
31+3⁄4 in (0.81 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | |||||||||
| All values from Pro Day[4] | ||||||||||||
Carolina Panthers
[edit]
Franklin was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2020, and made the team out of training camp.[5][6][7] On October 18, Franklin had his first meaningful action against the Chicago Bears when Juston Burris was injured, making two tackles.[8] In Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Franklin recorded his first career sack on Patrick Mahomes during the 33–31 loss.[9]
In Week 4 of the 2023 season against the Minnesota Vikings, Franklin recorded his first career interception which he then returned 99 yards for his first NFL defensive touchdown. This interception also set the franchise record for longest interception returned for a touchdown. One week later at Detroit, Franklin set a new personal high with eight total tackles, including seven solo stops.[10]
On July 29, 2024, Franklin suffered a broken foot during training camp practice.[11] He was placed on injured reserve to begin the season.[12] He was activated on October 26.[13]
Denver Broncos
[edit]On April 8, 2025, Franklin signed a one-year guaranteed contract with the Denver Broncos.[14] On August 26, Franklin was released by the Broncos.[15]
Buffalo Bills
[edit]On August 27, 2025, Franklin signed with the Buffalo Bills' practice squad.[16] On September 4, he was promoted to the active roster.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ Alexander, Jonathan M. (October 29, 2020). "From Applebee's to Outback, Panthers safety saved every penny for a chance at the NFL". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ Narducci, Marc (April 26, 2020). "Temple LB Sam Franklin rejoining former coach Matt Rhule with Carolina Panthers". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ Wallen, Ryan (April 26, 2020). "Four former Owls sign with NFL teams as undrafted free agents". OwlsDaily.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Sam Franklin College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ Callihan, Schuyler (May 22, 2020). "Rhule's Former College Players & Their Projected Impact in Carolina". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ "Panthers agree to terms with 17 undrafted free agents". Panthers.com. April 27, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "Citrus graduate Franklin makes Panthers roster". Chronicleonline.com. September 6, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ Huber, Jason (October 21, 2020). "Sam Franklin ready to show he belongs". WFNZ. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "Carolina Panthers at Kansas City Chiefs – November 8th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ "Stats and Superlatives: Panthers drop road matchup at Detroit". www.panthers.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ "Panthers special teams standout Sam Franklin Jr. out with broken foot". abcnews.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (August 27, 2024). "Panthers make moves to get to initial 53-man roster". Panthers.com.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (October 26, 2024). "Nick Scott placed on IR, among other safety moves". Panthers.com.
- ^ DiLalla, Aric (April 11, 2025). "Broncos sign S Sam Franklin Jr". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ DiLalla, Aric (August 26, 2025). "Broncos make series of transactions to reach 53-player roster limit". Denver Broncos. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Ventre, Ralph (August 27, 2025). "Bills bringing in former Panthers' special teams ace with ties to coaching staff". Buffalo Bills On SI. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ White, Alec; Glab, Maddy. "Bills sign DB Sam Franklin Jr. to active roster, sign a veteran kicker to the practice squad and make two more roster moves". buffalobills.com. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sam Franklin Jr..
- Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN
- Buffalo Bills profile
- Temple Owls profile
Sam Franklin Jr.
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Sam Franklin Jr. (born February 2, 1996) is an American football safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL).[1] Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 210 pounds, he played college football at Temple University, where he appeared in 53 games over four seasons from 2016 to 2019, recording 194 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, eight passes defensed, and one forced fumble.[2] After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Franklin signed with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent and spent five seasons there from 2020 to 2024, appearing in 74 games with 105 tackles (74 solo), one sack, one interception, and one forced fumble, while excelling as a special teams contributor, including leading the team with 13 special teams tackles in 2022.[1] One of his most notable plays came on October 1, 2023, when he returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings.[3] After a brief stint with the Denver Broncos in 2025 during which he did not appear in any regular-season games, in September 2025, he signed with the Buffalo Bills, where he has continued to contribute on defense and special teams through the 2025 season, adding six solo tackles in nine games as of November 2025.[4][5][6]
Note: Combined tackles totaled 194 career; solo/assist figures adjusted per aggregated sources for consistency with verified totals.[2][22][24]
Franklin's achievements included earning All-AAC Honorable Mention honors in 2019 for his linebacker play, where he was one of the conference's top tacklers. In 2018, he was named College Football Madness AAC Defensive Player of the Week following a standout performance against Navy, recording 8 tackles and a sack. He also received multiple Temple #theSTANDARD Player of the Game awards in 2018 for contributions across defense and special teams, including games against Tulsa, East Carolina, Navy, Cincinnati, and Houston. While he did not secure major national awards, his dual-threat statistics highlighted his versatility, contributing to Temple records for multi-phase production among underclassmen. Scouting reports from his senior year praised this two-way potential, noting his 6-foot-3 frame and athleticism as assets for hybrid roles in professional schemes.[25][8][8][23]
Early life
Birth and family
Samuel Lamar Franklin Jr. was born on February 2, 1996, in Crystal River, Florida.[7][1] He grew up in the rural Citrus County area of Florida, with his hometown listed as Crystal River and strong community connections extending to nearby Inverness.[8][9] Public details about his family background, including parental occupations and siblings, remain limited, though many relatives continue to reside in Citrus County, reflecting deep local roots.[9] From a young age, Franklin showed interest in multiple sports, including football and basketball, participating in local recreational leagues and school programs that fostered his athletic development in the close-knit rural community.[10][11]High school career
Sam Franklin Jr. attended Citrus High School in Inverness, Florida, from 2011 to 2015, where he emerged as a versatile athlete in multiple sports.[8] As a two-year starter on the football team under coach Justin Taylor, Franklin played wide receiver, strong safety, outside linebacker, defensive back, and kick returner, showcasing his multi-positional skills.[12] Over his junior and senior seasons, he recorded 47 receptions for 932 yards and seven touchdowns on offense, while contributing defensively with 79 tackles (45 solo) and three interceptions.[12] In his senior year of 2014, he added rushing prowess, including 100 yards and two touchdowns in a single game against Crystal River High School.[13] Franklin's defensive efforts earned him recognition as one of the top interceptors in his district, ranking fourth in 6A District 5 with three picks that season.[13] He was selected to participate in the 60th annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) North-South All-Star Classic in December 2014, one of only four players from Citrus County, where he caught a touchdown pass and aimed to impress college recruiters.[14] As team captain, he received Player of the Game honors five times during his high school career, highlighting his leadership and impact despite not being a nationally ranked recruit.[10] Beyond football, Franklin competed on the varsity basketball team in his senior year of 2014–15, averaging 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game over 2 appearances, which underscored his athletic range and contributed to the team's efforts.[13] His performances in both sports drew initial interest from college programs. After graduating from Citrus High School, Franklin attended East Coast Preparatory School in Monkton, Maryland, for a postgraduate year in 2015–16 before enrolling at Temple University.[12][8]College career
Temple University
Sam Franklin Jr. was recruited to Temple University as an athlete out of East Coast Preparatory School in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, following his high school career at Citrus High School in Crystal River, Florida. His high school versatility as a wide receiver and defensive back carried over to college, where he was seen as a multi-positional talent capable of contributing on both sides of the ball. He enrolled at Temple in 2016 as part of the freshman class.[15][12][16] During his four seasons with the Temple Owls from 2016 to 2019, Franklin primarily developed as a defensive player, starting his career at defensive back before transitioning to linebacker, while also seeing action on special teams. As a freshman in 2016, his snaps were limited, mostly on special teams, where he recorded his first career tackle against Penn State. His sophomore year in 2017 marked a breakout, with increased starts on defense as a linebacker, helping solidify the Owls' front seven in American Athletic Conference (AAC) play. By his junior and senior seasons in 2018 and 2019, Franklin had evolved into a full-time starter at linebacker, emerging as a leader on special teams and contributing significantly to Temple's defensive efforts, including in key AAC matchups.[8][2][17] Franklin had several notable performances in AAC conference games, including an interception returned 29 yards for a touchdown against UConn in November 2019, which helped Temple secure a victory, and a 39-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in a defensive-dominated win over USF earlier that month. He also played a key role in Temple's close defensive battle against then-No. 19 Cincinnati in November 2019, contributing tackles in a 13-15 loss at Lincoln Financial Field. These efforts were part of Temple's postseason run, where Franklin appeared in the 2019 Military Bowl against North Carolina, showcasing his versatility as a tackler and coverage specialist.[18][19][20][21] Following his senior season, Franklin declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, positioning himself as an undrafted free agent prospect with an emphasis on his multi-role capabilities across defense and special teams, which had become a hallmark of his college tenure at Temple.[2]College statistics and achievements
During his four seasons at Temple University from 2016 to 2019, Sam Franklin Jr. demonstrated versatility as a two-way player, contributing significantly on defense and offense while appearing in 53 games. Defensively, he amassed career totals of 140 solo tackles, 54 assists, 8.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. Offensively, over two seasons primarily as a wide receiver, he recorded 47 receptions for 932 yards and 7 touchdowns. These figures underscored his all-purpose capabilities, earning recognition in scouting evaluations for his potential as a hybrid defender and skill player.[22][8][23][24] Franklin's defensive production built progressively after a limited freshman year in 2016, where he registered 4 combined tackles but no interceptions or sacks. In 2017, as a sophomore, he emerged as a key linebacker with 59 combined tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and a career-high 4.0 sacks in 13 games, helping Temple's defense rank among the top units in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) for sacks. His 2018 junior season marked a breakout with 63 combined tackles (a then-career high), 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and his first career interception, contributing to the Owls' 7-6 record and Military Bowl appearance. As a senior in 2019, Franklin started all 13 games and led the team with 68 combined tackles, adding 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, his second interception (returned for a touchdown), and 2 fumble recoveries; he ranked second in the AAC for interception return touchdowns.[2][2]| Year | Solo Tackles | Assists | Sacks | INT | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 43 | 16 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 45 | 18 | 3.0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 | 49 | 19 | 1.0 | 1 | 2 |
| Career | 140 | 54 | 8.0 | 2 | 3 |