Baylor Bears Defensive End TJ Franklin Returning for 2023 Season
Baylor Bears defensive end TJ Franklin announced on Twitter Monday he would be returning to school for his fifth and final season of eligibility.
— Tj Franklin (@Tf24Tj) January 16, 2023
Franklin will be the only 2023 starter to play under both Matt Rhule and Dave Aranda, having played in 11 games under Rhule in his freshman season in 2019. Last season, in a tradition which started under Rhule and continues under Aranda, Franklin was awarded a single digit number (No. 9), a marker of being a leader and one of the toughest players on the team.
In 2022, Franklin tallied 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three passes defended in 12 games. For his career where he has played all but six available games, Franklin has compiled 13.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and a forced fumble.
With Siaki Ika declaring for the NFL Draft and Jaxon Player out of eligibility, Franklin will be a focal point on the defensive line, along with Gabe Hall, should he not declare for the draft.
Baylor returned their entire starting defensive line in 2022 and added Player through the transfer portal, yet regressed from their 2021 dominance. The Bears ranked ninth in the Big 12 in sacks and while they only dipped down to third in rushing yards against from second in 2021, they allowed 30 more rushing yards per game this season as opposed to last.
Matt Powledge will be the third Baylor defensive coordinator Franklin has played under.
Follow Cameron Stuart on Twitter
Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Baylor Bears? Click Here
Follow Inside the Bears on Twitter and Facebook
Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @LockedOnBaylor today! Click here To Listen.
Want even more Baylor Bears News? Check out the SI.com team page here
Covering Baylor for Inside The Bears and the Locked on Baylor podcast. You can follow me for more Baylor content at @realcamstuart on Twitter. Originally from Rockland, Massachusetts and a Baylor alum, so I might mix the occasional bias and/or Boston sports tweet in there every once in a while.