Kareem Franklin put on his first helmet and shoulder pads when he was seven years old. Beginning his football career on the Central Valley 49ers team in elementary school, Franklin has since evolved to playing competitively as a defensive back on the M-A football team.
By seventh grade, Franklin knew he wanted to commit to football throughout the rest of middle school and all of high school. Right before the COVID-19 pandemic, Franklin joined the Menlo-Atherton Vikings, a competitive youth football team, where he was introduced to the physical aggression of football.
Recalling an incident where his finger was crushed between him and his teammate’s helmets, Franklin knew that the time for friendly competition was over. “Right after that happened, I knew I was going to stop playing nice,” he said.
Franklin’s older brother, a former M-A football player who went on to be drafted into the NFL, has played a large role in Franklin’s involvement in the sport. “His experience has made me more knowledgeable in the recruiting process, and has given me a chance to improve my individual reputation as a football player,” Franklin said.
Another influential figure in Franklin’s journey has been his longtime coach, Eric Washington. Being a cousin of New York Jets player Devante Adams, Washington has been pivotal in introducing Franklin to the intricacies of the recruiting process and the NFL. Through numerous one-on-one workouts, Washington has taught Franklin a great deal about playing wide receiver and defensive back.
Franklin trains with the M-A team roughly 35 hours a week, consisting of anything from six-hour game days to four-hour practices and lifts.
“The sport is very demanding: you have school, practice, and workouts. So, it’s taught me to be mature, take accountability, and manage my time wisely,” he said.
Looking past high school, Franklin is comfortable with his options for football. “Depending on how the end of the season goes, I’ll either look for offers from school or enter into the draft,” he said.
If not through offers, Franklin plans on attending a California State University before transferring to a four-year university to continue his education and football career, where he aims to get drafted after a couple of seasons in college.
“I love the brotherhood. I love the team,” Franklin said. “It’s a legacy that we carry as a team and it means a lot.”
When asked about a lesson he carries with him from football, Franklin said, “It sounds kind of harsh, but it’s ‘kill or be killed.’”
“Other teams are not going to go easier on you if you’re smaller or seem like you’re not the best, you have to put yourself out there,” he added.
Franklin advises incoming freshmen interested in football to trust the process—a piece of advice passed down from Washington. “Football is a sport that you have to train every day for, it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to keep training and stay consistent to see progress,” Franklin said.
