Eric Franklin

Biography

Franklin came to the Big Red in January 2024. He joins the Big Red as cornerbacks coach after four seasons in the same role at the University of Pennsylvania. This past season, Franklin's cornerbacks helped Penn's defense finish in the top half of the FCS in several categories, including total defense (304 yards per game, 13th), passing efficiency (115.9, 19th) and scoring defense (21.7 points per game, 26th). Two of Penn's defensive backs -- Shiloh Means and Kendren Smith -- earned All-Ivy League honors. Means finished tied for third in the league with three interceptions, and Smith led Penn with 58 passes defended. In 2022, Franklin spent time working with the Baltimore Ravens during their preseason training camp as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. Before his stint at Penn, Franklin spent two seasons as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Washington & Lee University. The Generals were first in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in scoring defense and second in rushing defense and total defense in 2018. Franklin spent the 2017 season coaching wide receivers at Johns Hopkins University. Two of his receivers were first-team All-Centennial Conference selections that year. Franklin began his coaching career as a varsity and junior varsity assistant at Archbishop Curley High School (2013-15). He entered the collegiate ranks in 2015 as a graduate assistant/video coordinator at Wagner College. Franklin was a four-year letter winner at the Unive