For the first time ever two Canadians were chosen in the first two rounds of the same NFL draft. Friday evening Orlando Franklin was picked up by the Denver Broncos, 46th overall. Orlando was raised in Toronto and moved to Florida for his last 2 years of high school football. NFL Networks Rich Eisen called him the “most nasty, meanest, physical lineman in this draft.”
Franklin was born in Jamaica but moved to Canada at a young age. He played 2 years of football in Toronto before moving to the United States. He did this because he felt he had a better chance of earning an NCAA Division 1 scholarship. Franklin played at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach and earned a NCAA FBS scholarship at Miami.
Franklin, six-foot-six and 316 pounds, is expected to move from left tackle/guard to right tackle for the Broncos, according to reports. NFL.com hails Franklin as being a superb run blocker.
Franklin is not yet eligible for the CFL draft. Franklin has not yet applied for non-import status. He has to because he finished high school in the United States.
A complete list of Canadians who have been selected in the NFL Draft:
Danny Watkins – 1st round Eagles 2011
Orlando Franklin – 2nd round Broncos 2011
Vaughn Martin – 4th round Chargers 2009
Austin Collie (born in Hamilton) – 4th round 2009 Draft – Colts
Nick Kaczur – 3rd round 2005, Patriots
OJ Atogwe – 3rd round Rams 2005
Jesse Palmer 4 round Giants 2005
Teyo Johnson (born in White Rock BC) – 2nd round 2003 Raiders (now plays in UFL)
Nate Burleson (born in Calgary) – 3rd round 2003 – Vikings
Jerome Pathon – 2nd round – 1998 Colts
OJ Santiago – -3rd round 1997 draft Falcons
Tim Biakabutuka – 1st Round 1996 Panthers
Mark Montreuil – 7th round San Diego Chargers in 1995
Tom Nutten – 1992 7th round Rams
Tyrone Williams – 1992 – 9th round — Phoenix
Tony Mandarich – 1989 – 1st round – Green Bay
Mike Schad – 1st round 1986 Rams
Rueben Mayes — 3rd round 1986 Saints
Chris Schultz – 7th round 1983 Cowboys
CAREER STATISTICS
2010 UMIAMI SPORTS HALL OF FAME UNSUNG HERO AWARD
2010 All-ACC SECOND TEAM
2010 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST
2010 LOMBARDI AWARD CANDIDATE
2009 ALL-ACC HONORABLE MENTION
CAREER:Played in 51 games and bolstered the 2010 `Canes starting experience, having made 39 starts from 2007-2010…Two-time All-ACC honoree…Two-time ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honoree…Garnered Rookie of the Year honors in 2007…Voted as the UMiami Sports Hall of Fame Unsung Hero in 2010…Helped Miami offense rack up second-(2010) and fourth-most (2009) yards in school history.
2010 (SENIOR): Earned All-ACC second team honors as voted by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association…Named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after his performance at Pittsburgh, grading out at 89 percent…Led the team with 61 pancake blocks and 16 lumberjacks, while playing in 13 games and starting 12 at left tackle…Graded out at 95 percent against Ohio State… Graded out at 94 percent against UNC…Helped a Miami offense rack up 5,477 yards (3,105 passing, 2,372 rushing), which is the second most in school history and the most since the 2002 season (6,074 yards).
2009 (JUNIOR): Named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after his performance in the regular season finale at USF when he started at left tackle … Graded out at 95 percent with 51 pancake blocks and 13 lumberjacks in helping anchor the left side of the offensive line while starting all 11 games at left guard and one game at left tackle … Picked up a career-high 10 pancake blocks and graded out at 96 percent in the win over Duke … Also performed well against Georgia Tech (97 percent grade, eight pancake blocks, five lumberjacks); Wake Forest (97 percent grade, four pancake blocks); North Carolina (94 percent grade); Florida State (95 percent grade) and Oklahoma (93 percent grade, limited All-American DT Gerald McCoy to a half-tackle) … Helped a Miami offense rack up 5,199 yards (3,405 passing, 1,794 rushing), which is the most since the 2004 season (4,593 yards) as the Miami offense is in line to become just the eighth team in school history to gain 5,000 yards in a season.
2008 (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 13 games at left guard with 11 starts coming against Charleston Southern, Florida, Texas A&M, UCF, Florida State, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech … Tallied a team-high 38 pancake blocks and graded out at 94 percent … Picked up a season-high six pancake blocks at Virginia and graded out at 94 percent … Played well at Texas A&M, at NC State and against Virginia Tech grading out at 96 percent in all three games … Played a season-high 74 plays in the Emerald Bowl against Cal and graded 95 percent … Also played 70 snaps against UCF and 73 snaps at Virginia.
2007 (FRESHMAN): Shared team’s Rookie of the Year Award with Graig Cooper … Played in all 12 games, starting three times … Graded out at 95 percent, with 27 pancakes in 407 downs played … Played in his first collegiate game against Marshall … Started at left guard against NC State, Virginia Tech and Boston College.
HIGH SCHOOL: Did not allow any sacks as a senior in 2005, his only season at Atlantic HS … Moved to Florida as a junior from Canada, and is originally from Jamaica … In 2006, was rated a four-star prospect and the No. 23 offensive tackle by Rivals.com, and was ranked the No. 2 offensive tackle on the Florida Times-Union Super 75 … Coached by Chris Bean.
Career Stats courtesy: [URL]http://hurricanesports.cstv.com
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