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JOHN FRANKLIN-MYER | Stephen F. Austin 6037 | 283 lbs. | SR. Greenville, Texas (Greenville) #13
BACKGROUND: A no-star defensive end recruit out of high school, John Franklin-Myer was a three-sport letterwinner at Greenville, playing football, basketball and track and field. He was a three-year starter at defensive end, earning team MVP honors his junior and senior seasons. With Greenville going 0-40 over his four-year high school career, Franklin-Myer didn’t receive much attention from FBS-level programs, but received an offer from FCS-level Stephen F. Austin. He saw time as a true freshman back-up in 2014, posting 11 tackles. Franklin-Myer worked his way into the starting line-up as a sophomore and recorded 32 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks, earning Second Team All-Southland honors. He started nine games as a junior and posted 32 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and four forced fumbles, earning First Team All-Southland honors. Franklin-Myer started 10 games as a senior and finished with 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble, earning Second Team All-Southland honors. He accepted his invitation to the 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Looks like a NFL defensive end with lower body thickness…balanced athlete with clean movements in space…strong-strider and picks up speed as he goes…powerful at the point of attack, driving his legs to force his way through bodies…heavy-handed to swipe and knock blockers off-balance…physical hitter and secures tackles once he makes contact…played multiple defensive line techniques, lining up on both sides of the of the offensive tackle…enjoys playing and it shows on tape, however, works hard to be “more than just” a football player (three-time Southland All-Academic honoree)…unselfish football character…finished his career ranked top-five in school history with 37.5 tackles for loss.

WEAKNESSES: Methodical edge speed, lacking an explosive get-off…rushes with upright pads…displays little semblance of a pass rush plan…strong hands, but doesn’t shoot them into blockers or fully take advantage of his length…ball locator constantly on the fritz…gives up contain more times than expected on film for a player with his size/strength traits…delayed reactions vs. option plays and needs to diagnose quicker…crashes the backfield, but often out of control, denting his finishing skills…sack production declined as a senior…faced lower level of competition.

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Stephen F. Austin, Franklin-Myer played left defensive end in the Lumberjacks’ multiple fronts, lining up outside, inside and over the offensive tackle. He is a great story of focus with multiple family members in jail, lacking much of a support system, but he relied on football to keep him on the straight-and-narrow. Franklin-Myer was used as more of a base end with mixed results, playing with power, but his ball awareness and play anticipation need work. As a pass rusher, he doesn’t have a formidable get-off and his sequence lacks refinement. Overall, Franklin-Myer looks better than he plays, but he owns the football character and traits that can be coached up, making him an intriguing day three development option.
GRADE: 5th-6th Round