On the field, Johnathan Franklin doesn't even think.
When the ball goes to UCLA's senior running back, he doesn't think about the linebacker coming at him like a truck; he doesn't think about where his blockers are and he doesn't see red.
When Franklin is on the field, he just runs.
"You just react," Franklin says. "I really don't think, I just run and my body just moves wherever it goes."
Franklin describes the running back position as an instinctual one. In his case, his instincts have yet to steer him wrong.
In UCLA's season-opener, Franklin torched Rice for 214 yards. While it was easy to shrug off a game against Rice, the following week he did it again, and this time in a big way.
By now, every football fan in Los Angeles knows about Franklin's nationally-televised performance that helped an unranked UCLA team knock off No. 17 Nebraska at the Rose Bowl. It was against the historically great Blackshirts that Franklin made a statement with 217 yards. The performance vaulted him into the Heisman hopeful conversation and into second place on UCLA's all-time rushing list.
Franklin has yet to start thinking about those things and stop running.
"It's in the back of a lot of guys' minds about records," Franklin said. "You know, breaking this, breaking that. But all I can worry about is just working as hard as I can and making big plays on Saturday and trying to help my team win the game."
UCLA has, in fact, won every game in which Franklin has rushed for over 100 yards. The only blemish on an otherwise stellar record for both the Bruins and Franklin is the Pac-12 opener against Oregon State.
Two weeks ago, Franklin was held to an uncharacteristic 45 yards by a tricky Beavers defense that is designed to eliminate the run. But Franklin was right back at it the next week at Colorado, running all over the Buffs.
While this season has been a coming out party of sorts for Franklin, he didn't exactly materialize out of nowhere. He got on the college football radar in 2010 with three-straight 100-yard efforts as a sophomore. That stretch was capped off by a 216-yard, one-touchdown performance against Washington State, which was the first time he surpassed the 200-yard mark.
But under the pro-style offenses of former UCLA coordinators Norm Chow and Mike Johnson, the Bruins produced lackluster results. Franklin was productive, but hardly dominant. Enter Jim Mora, and with him came new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone who runs an ultra-traditional one-back spread offense.
Mazzone brought with him a playbook that called for a hybrid air-ground attack. A spread that utilizes multiple slots and causes defensive displacement. It's a system that is old school yet progressive at the same time, and requires one key piece to put it all together: a feature back.
"This (offense) allows me to be in more space and make big plays," Franklin said. "You put the ball in the receivers hands or one of the running backs' hands and it allows guys to make plays and that's exciting to see."
The effects were instant – with 697 net yards, Franklin is the nation's fourth-leading rusher after just five games. And a player as athletic and skilled as Franklin had no problems making the adjustment. His run-first, think-later mentality makes him a back versatile enough for nearly any system.
"I'm feeling any offense," Franklin said. "A running back got to be a running back. You've still got to block, you've still got to catch, you've still got to run the ball."
After the final whistle blows, Franklin is able to easily shed that mentality. He thinks about plenty. In terms of football, Franklin is constantly thinking about how can be better. He works exceptionally hard, and is exceptionally proud of it, but doesn't really even know any different.
"I think my work ethic might be my greatest asset," Franklin said. "Me not being satisfied, no matter if I've had the best game or the worst game, I'm going to come out the following week the same person, working hard. Because I'm just not satisfied no matter what happens and what goes on. I'm my biggest critic."
Franklin is a proud Christian who frequently cites his beliefs as a motivating factor in his game and in life. He seems somewhat reserved and soft-spoken, although he says that in the locker room with his teammates, that isn't the case. It might come as a somewhat of a surprise to hear that his favorite NFL player is Ray Lewis. Exuberant, intense and even controversial, Lewis and Franklin may appear to be opposites - and may soon be lining up opposite of one another. But bring up the Baltimore Ravens icon and Franklin passionately details his admiration of Lewis' work ethic.
"He works so, so hard, and that's so inspiring and so encouraging," Franklin said. "I just like the way Ray Lewis plays – his mentality, his work ethic. He wants to be the best."
Franklin also wants to be the best, both on the field and in life. Community service, acting, poetry and his church are Franklin's other interests. Being a well-rounded person with strong character is important to Franklin.
"I just want to be more than an athlete," Franklin said. "I don't want people to look at me and say, ‘He's just a football player.' I want to be known for playing more than football. I just want to do great things.
You've got one life, you've got to live it to the fullest."
