Ex-Husker fullback Franklin dies BY KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star Thursday, Dec 07, 2006 - 11:51:03 pm CST Former Nebraska fullback Andra Franklin, 47, was found dead Wednesday at his home in Lincoln. A Lincoln police report said he died of natural causes. The standout from Anniston, Ala., was NU’s starting fullback from 1978 through 1980. In 1977, he lettered as a freshman, one of the first Huskers to do so in modern times. He was named All-Big Eight in 1980 and earned all-conference honorable mention in 1978 and 1979. He finished as NU’s career leading rusher at fullback with 1,738 yards and 10 touchdowns. He played in four bowl games, including the last time Nebraska played in the Cotton Bowl, in 1980. Advertisement “Andra was the best blocker I ever had in college or pros,” former Husker All-America I-back Jarvis Redwine said Thursday. “I’d get through the line or around the corner and the linebacker would be on his back because Andra just blew right through him. “He was the most quiet guy I ever played with, but he was a guy always working hard and always producing on the field.” In the fall of 1980, the town of North Platte adopted Franklin for “Andra Franklin Day” before the Huskers played Florida State. Former Nebraska All-America defensive back Bret Clark said he remembered Franklin’s power. “It was one of those days where I.M. Hipp and Rick Berns were held out of practice, so they put Andra back there at I-back and he comes around the corner, and here I am, a scout-team defensive back, and the ground was shaking,” Clark said. “Nobody liked to try to tackle Andra.” Drafted in the second round by the Miami Dolphins in 1981, Franklin played four seasons in the NFL. He made the cover of the Jan. 24, 1984 Sports Illustrated under the headline “Day of the Dolphins,” with the subhead “Andra Franklin Plows Through the Chargers.” He was voted to the Pro Bowl by his fellow NFL players and coaches after the strike-shortened 1982 season, when he gained 701 yards on 177 carries in nine games. Franklin worked with the NU strength program for a time after a knee injury ended his pro football career. When he was recruited out of Anniston High, where he was a two-time all-state back, Franklin signed a conference letter-of-intent with Alabama. He visited the NU campus later and announced that he was going to accept a scholarship from Nebraska. Franklin later had a street named after him and he was voted the Dolphins’ rookie of the year in 1981. Franklin is survived by his ex-wife, Becky, and children Michaela and Andrew. He is also survived by brothers Clyde, Roderick and Dexter, and sister Michelle. Services are pending.