HOOVER, Ala. -- Whether Missouri quarterback James Franklin improves his throwing arm enough to make an NFL roster will ultimately determine whether he has a chance to play on Sundays. In fact, Franklin told NFL Draft 365 that in the past, he's had more faith in his legs than his arm.
But with the read-option offense and more athletic quarterbacks taking root in the NFL, Franklin's ability to tuck the ball and get yards on his own would figure to give him a slightly better opportunity to make an NFL roster.
"I actually don't really like running the ball," Franklin said. "I've just always done it because I've trusted my legs more than my arm. I prefer not to run, (but) I suppose that could help my (NFL) chances."
Franklin (6-2, 230) ran wild in Missouri's final Big 12 season in 2011, rushing for 981 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 217 carries, even more impressive given that sacks -- unlike the NFL -- are counted as negative rushing yards in official NCAA statistics. He threw for 2,865 yards that season with another 21 touchdowns and a 63 percent completion rate.
Southeastern Conference defenses clamped down on Franklin's game last season, however, as a shoulder injury, a concussion and a knee injury conspired to lay waste to his first SEC season. He was able to play in only nine games, and wasn't fully healthy in many of them. He also declined assistance from painkillers last year when injuries began costing him playing time.
The idea, Franklin indicated, is to not get injured at all.
As such, Franklin is aware that any potential future in the pro ranks will require a trait beyond athleticism.
"I still have to be smart when I do run the ball, and get down," Franklin said. "Russell Wilson does a great job when he runs the ball of getting down after he gets his yards. That's something I'm definitely going to try to apply to my game this year."
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.
