Franklin Named Pop Warner College Football Award Finalist

Football 11/24/2023 11:42:00 AM

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DURHAM – Duke graduate defensive tackle Ja'Mion Franklin has been named a finalist for the 14th Annual Pop Warner College Football Award, according to an announcement Friday by Pop Warner Little Scholars. The award was established in 2010 to recognize a senior who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in the community, and serves as a role model to Pop Warner's young student-athletes. Franklin is one of five finalists, along with Auburn linebacker Elijah McAllister, Texas Tech defensive lineman Tony Bradford Jr., Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington, and California offensive lineman Matthew Cindric. Former Duke quarterback Sean Renfree won the award in 2012. A 6-2, 309-pound product of Ridgely, Md., Franklin has accumulated 26 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack this season. Additionally, he has been named to the 2023 Allstate American Football Coach Association (AFCA) Good Works Team® and was selected a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy. "This year's finalists represent the very heart and soul of Pop Warner's core values: excellence on the field, dedication in the classroom, and an unwavering commitment to community service," said Jon Butler, Executive Director of Pop Warner Little Scholars. "They are not only exceptional athletes but also exemplary role models for our young athletes, proving that true success lies in the pursuit of athletics, academics, and community. We are immensely proud of their achievements and the positive impact they have made on their programs and communities." In the classroom, Franklin graduated from Duke in May with a bachelor's degree in visual studies and a certificate in policy journalism and media studies. He is a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll recipient, NFF Hampshire Honor society member and currently holds a 3.30 grade point average. Off the field, Franklin has been giving back to his local communities for years. As a part of Duke's Student-Athlete Development program, Franklin meets with local second through fifth graders from a variety of different Durham Public Schools to help them meet reading initiative goals throughout the year. In addition, Franklin has assisted with the Durham Rescue Mission and Urban Ministries of Durham, sorting through inventory to help the faith-based, non-profit organization provide food, support and shelter to those in need. The Ridgely, Md., native has worked closely with the Be the Match organization, collecting names of individuals willing to be added to the donor registry for bone marrow or cord blood transplant surgery. In the spring, Franklin was voted by his teammates and coaches as one of four captains. The Pop Warner Little Scholars National College Football Award will be announced on December 5 as part of the 66th Pop Warner Super Bowl at Camping World Stadium held on December 2 - December 9. Last year's winner was University of Kentucky guard Kenneth Horsey, winner of the Finn Collier Service Award and Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, nominee of the Wuerffel Trophy and a member of both the Allstate AFCA National Good Works Team and the SEC Community Service Team. Previous recipients have included, Prince Amukamara (Nebraska), Chase Minnifield (Virginia), Renfree (Duke), Gary Bush (Purdue), Jordan Richards (Stanford), Brandon Chubb (Wake Forest), Evan Engram (Mississippi), Braxton Berrios (Miami), CJ Conrad (Kentucky), Michael Pittman, Jr. (USC), Ian Book (Notre Dame) and Elijah Hicks (California) and Horsey. #GoDuke