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Kendal Franklin had 16 sacks and 20 tackles for lost yardage last season
“Louisiana Lightning” is a nickname that’s already taken by former big-league pitcher Ron Guidry.
The name could apply to Arizona’s latest commitment, lightning-quick defensive end Kendal Franklin of New Orleans Warren Easton High School.
On a day when Arizona’s video staff released another must-watch production — “Arizona Fast: #TheNewNormal” — Rich Rodriguez landed a commitment from a defensive end/outside linebacker who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds.
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That’s an impressive time for a player who is listed at 6’3″ and 235 pounds. The time is better than what a majority of the linebackers and defensive linemen were clocked at during the NFL scouting combine in February.
Franklin’s athleticism should make him a dangerous pass rusher on the outside at Arizona. He can be a disruptive force. As a junior last season, he finished with 16 sacks, 20 tackles for lost yardage, and eight forced fumbles.
According to Scout.com, other major programs such as Florida State, USC, Florida and Oklahoma started to show interest in Franklin after his MVP performance at the National Underclassmen Combine Five Star Showcase in Denham Springs, La., in March and a second-place finish at the Dallas Nike Football Training Camp on April 6.
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Kendal Franklin on Arizona: “They are going in the right direction and I want to be on their team when they get there."
— Cody James Martin (@CodyJamesMartin) July 9, 2014
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Franklin is the third Louisiana recruit who has committed to Arizona, which is getting the most out of assistant Calvin Magee’s presence in that region. Magee, Arizona’s co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach, was the lead recruiter for Franklin and fellow Louisiana Class of 2015 recruits Antonio Parks, a safety at Reserve (La.) East St. John High School, and Orlando Bradford, a running back at Shreveport (La.) Calvary Baptist.
If Franklin, Parks and Bradford sign in February (verbal commitments are non-binding), Arizona will have at least four players from Louisiana on next year’s roster. Patrick Glover, who moved from New Orleans to Phoenix after Hurricane Katrina, will be a senior cornerback in 2015.
The four from Louisiana in 2015 will be more than the amount of players from Texas. Receiver Cayleb Jones (Austin) and tight end Josh Kern (San Antonio) should be juniors. Kern was recruited as a quarterback by previous coach Mike Stoops, who used Texas as a recruiting base. Jones transferred to Arizona from Texas last year.
That means no players on Arizona’s current roster were originally recruited by Rodriguez out of high school in Texas.
In Stoops’ last season in 2011, Arizona had 15 players from Texas, 13 of whom were recruited by Stoops’ staff out of high school.
Rodriguez is dipping further into the South — SEC country — to attract talent. Thirteen players on Arizona’s 2014 roster are from Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi.
CLASS OF 2015 ARIZONA FOOTBALL COMMITMENTS (17)
Stars based on Scout.com’s rating. Rank indicates national ranking.
OFFENSE (9)
[table “” not found /]DEFENSE (8)
[table “” not found /]ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
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