Did You Know? Sports Illustrated Named James Franklin Player Of The Week, In 1994

In recent years, James Franklin has chiseled out a reputation as a top coach, but that doesn’t mean the guy who’s now leading Penn State’s football program couldn’t sling a few passes himself back in the day.

As a quarterback at East Stroudsburg University, Franklin saw his fair share of long balls thrown over the years en route to setting or tying 23 school single-game, season, or career records. Five of those records still stand today. Additionally Franklin was named a regional candidate for the Harlon Hill Award, given to the top player in Division II, during his senior season in 1994.

That 1994 season came with at least one notable moment in the national spotlight as Franklin was named a National Player of The Week by Sports Illustrated magazine in October of 1994.

His performance was one any fan would be happy to see — 362 yards passing, three touchdowns, 150 yards rushing and one touchdown in a 44-17 victory over Southern Connecticut. Franklin’s performance may have gotten more attention had Kordell Stewart not thrown a 64-yard Hail Mary as time expired to upset Michigan that same weekend. 

Those records? It’s safe to say James Franklin wasn’t afraid to pass the ball.

ESU Records, following graduation (23 – 5 still stand, marked *)
300 yard passing games, career – 4
300 yard total offense games, career – 8
Consecutive games with 2+ TD passes, career – 5
Rushing yards, career (QB) – 1,077
Rushing TD, career (QB) – 10

Passing yards, season – 2,586 (1994)
Total offense, season – 3,129 (1994)
Total offense per game, season – 312.9 (1994)
Completions, season – 187 (1994)
Pass attempts, season – 364 (1994)
Passing TD, season – 19 (1993)
Total plays, season – 546 (1994)
300 yard passing games, season – 3 (1994)
300 yard total offense games, season – 5 (1994)
*Total plays per game, season – 54.6 (1994)
*Rushing yards, season (QB) – 543 (1994)
*Rushing TD, season (QB) – 7 (1994)

Total offense, single game – 512 (vs. Southern Conn. State, 1994)
Pass attempts, single game – 51 (vs. Millersville, 1994)
Pass attempts without an interceptions, single game – 43 (vs. Southern Conn. State, 1994)
Passing yards, first career start – 234 (at Kutztown, 1993)
*Total plays, single game – 72 (vs. Millersville, 1994)
*Rushing yards, game (QB) – 150 (vs. Southern Conn. State, 1994)

Popular Stories:

Penn State Football: Nittany Lions Set To Face Rutgers At Night

Penn State Basketball: Frazier Shines In Weekend Tournament

State High Hardballers Look to Take Next Step

Joe Paterno Statue Planned for Downtown