ND Football Signee Ja'mion Franklin: “I’ve been preparing my whole life for this goal"

Ja'mion Franklin‍ will arrive at Notre Dame in just about a month, but the 2018 defensive tackle signee has some business to take care of first. 

The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder wants to win State Titles in the discus and shot put. Franklin set a conference record in the shot put on May 3rd by throwing 52 feet, 8 inches and then threw a personal best 160 feet, 8 inches in the discus on May 9th. 

“I started out my freshman year not knowing what I was doing,” Franklin told Irish Sports Daily. “I was pretty strong and had some technique to throw, but I qualified for State every year and gotten better. I’m looking to bring home two titles this year. 

“Last year, I finished second in both and the year before I finished third and second. I’m just hoping to bring both of them home this year.” 

Franklin will then head to South Bend, and it’s something he’s been talking about daily with the rest of Notre Dame’s 2018 signees. 

“I’m fired up,” said Franklin. “I can’t wait to get there. Our conversations have been about keeping each other accountable. We have the same goals, and we want to make sure we’re prepared to make an impact when we come in.” 

The North Caroline (Md.) star has been told he will be a nose guard and while some players don’t like the dirty work involved with the position, Franklin is all in as it’s the position he wanted to play.  

“I’m definitely going to be playing nose guard,” stated Franklin. “That’s set in stone. I want to come in and hopefully earn a spot in the rotation. I know Bonner moved to nose, and we have Kurt (Hinish) and Darnell (Ewell), but I know what I bring to the table. Coach (Mike) Elston and Coach (Clark) Lea know what I do best, so I’m looking for working them and hopefully earning a spot behind Kurt or wherever.” 

Why does Franklin like nose guard so much? He loves the contact. 

“This year, our defensive end got hurt, and I had to play a little bit of defensive end,” explained Franklin. “I had always played on the interior of the line at nose or 3-Tech.” 

“It’s not as physical as I liked playing. I’m a physical player, and I’m all about contact. I’m not the kind of person that’s going to run around blockers. I’m fired up to be at nose guard because it’s constant action. I’m going to be in someone’s face every play.” 

Franklin was one of the most active recruiters in his class, but that hasn’t stopped since he signed in February. The four-star prospect has been involved in the 2019 class as he knows competition breeds success.  

“Everybody is starting to get the vision we can be pretty special at Notre Dame, not that they haven’t been before, but I know we have to good players and continue to come in,” Franklin said.  “Our class is special, but we have to keep having good classes come in.

“I want to go against the best guys in practice to make me the best player I can be. Talking to guys like Quinn Carroll and John Olmstead, I know those are guys I’m going to compete against, and I want to have the best we can so we can become the best players we can be.” 

The chance to run out of the tunnel on September 1st has been something on Franklin’s mind and a motivating factor throughout the offseason. 

“I can’t wait,” said Franklin. “I’ve been preparing my whole life for this goal. The first time running out of the tunnel is going to special."