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posted 07/19/00
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| Bubba Franks |
| Press Conference Audio
Ron Wolf, Bubba Franks, agent Leigh Steinberg, Andrew Brandt: (Real Audio) |
Completing a key project on the opening day of training camp, the Green Bay Packers today have signed tight end Daniel "Bubba" Franks, their first-round selection in the 2000 NFL draft, to a five-year contract, it was announced by Andrew Brandt, the team's director of player finance/football operations.
Franks, who arrived for the signing ceremony in mid-afternoon from his Texas home, will join his fellow rookies and first-year free agents on the practice field Thursday morning.
A Sporting News and Football News first-team selection at the University of Miami in 1999, Franks started every game for the Hurricanes last season and finished the year with a career-high 45 catches for 565 yards (a 12.6-yard average) and 5 touchdowns.
He closed out his collegiate career with 3 receptions for 72 yards against Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl.
The 6-6, 260-pound Big Spring, Texas, native, the 14th overall selection in this year's draft and an All-Big East Conference first-team selection each of the past two years, ranks as Miami's career leader in touchdown receptions (12) among tight ends.
A productive receiver, Franks posted 5-or-more-catches in five games during the '99 season, punctuating his personal year with 6 receptions for 78 yards - including a 10-yard touchdown that tied the game - in a 31-28 victory over Boston College.
Earlier, he was a Freshman All-America selection by The Sporting News in 1997, when he started eight games - including the last six in a row - and finished second on the team with 19 catches for 294 yards (a 15.5-yard average) and 4 touchdowns.
As a prep, Franks was a Dallas Morning News 'Top 100' selection, All-West Texas and unanimous all-district choice as a senior at Big Spring (Texas) High School. An all-purpose performer, he caught 21 passes for 580 yards and 10 touchdowns, was 2-for-2 passing for 40 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaged 16 yards per punt return and 19 yards per kickoff return and also played defensive end, posting 18 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception.
Born Daniel Lamont Franks on January 6, 1978, the 22-year-old Texan is the third member of his family to play Division I college sports. His uncle, Kenneth Banks, and his late cousin, Jarrod Banks, played football at Texas Tech and basketball at Baylor, respectively.
Franks is the 11th of the Packers' 13 draft selections to be signed. He joins nose tackle Steve Warren of Nebraska, third round; linebacker Na'il Diggs and safety Gary Berry of Ohio State, both fourth-round selections; defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila of San Diego State and kick returner/wide receiver Joey Jamison of Texas Southern, both fifth-round round picks; and offensive tackle Mark Tauscher of Wisconsin, defensive tackle Ron Moore of Northwestern Oklahoma State, wide receiver Charles Lee of Central Florida, linebacker Eugene McCaslin of the University of Florida and running back Rondell Mealey of LSU, all seventh-round selections.
Remaining to be signed: offensive tackle Chad Clifton of Tennessee, second round; and wide receiver Anthony Lucas of Arkansas, fourth round.