Aug. 28, 2008

http://www.thecharlottepost.com/index.php?cid=217046&src=news&refno=1076&category=Sports

Sports

Potent pairing

Published Thursday, August 28, 2008

by Herbert L. White

Timing is everything for Jeremy Franklin and Carlton Richardson.

 Franklin, a sophomore receiver at Johnson C. Smith, and Richardson, the Golden Bulls’ senior quarterback, helped themselves to breakout seasons in 2007.

As a junior, Richardson completed 118 of 241 passes for 1,668 yards and 11 touchdowns. Franklin was an all-CIAA selection as a freshman, catching a league-high 39 passes for 737 yards and six scores. The pair also teamed up for the longest offensive play in CIAA history, a 99-yard pass and run against St. Augustine’s. Even their first connection as teammates - a 33-yard score against Edward Waters - gave a hint of their potential.

“We communicate, we practice with each other, we spend time together,” Franklin said. “We’ve got a pretty good relationship together, and I hope we improve on that too, along the way.”

That’s what the Golden Bulls are counting on in 2008. Franklin, a converted safety, is still learning to play receiver and the nuances that go with developing rhythm with Richardson.

“They have basic great instincts for each other,” JCSU coach Daryl McNeill said. “We taught Carlton to look at Jeremy when he’s not throwing to Jeremy; we taught Jeremy to look at Carlton when he’s not the one he’s actually throwing to. Now he knows his delivery, he sees his timing, things like that. What they’ve been able to do is develop instincts for each other.”

Part of the bond comes from competing in the weight room or in sprints. Richardson said as he and Franklin push each other to improve, both benefit in the long term.

“We like to go against each other all the time - who’s faster, who’s stronger,” Richardson said. “He took the crown from me this year. He worked a little bit harder in the weight room this summer, but I told him I’m going to get my crown back.

“Everything is a competition between me and him. I only do it to get him better because he has a couple more years. I try to stay on him so he can be the best he can be and be the best in the CI.”

Franklin led the league in yards per catch last year at 18.9 and earned offensive rookie of the year in the process. Ironically, he was left off the coaches’ preseason all-conference team, a snub Franklin and Richardson are using as motivation.

“They expect me to be a one-time hit and just stop working, but I think it was an advantage that I came to summer school and met up with Carlton,” Franklin said. “We came out here and threw some routes so we could get a better connection with each other and get our timing down.”

Said Richardson: “Jeremy is an extra perk on the side where we’ve got a go-to guy who’s 6-4 and can go out and get the ball. He’s been getting better every day he’s been out here for the summer. He gets down on himself very hard, but in a good way to make himself a better player.”

As much as each wants to improve individually, Franklin and Richardson are looking to bring Smith its second winning season in three seasons, something that hasn’t happened since 1996-98. The Bulls open the season Aug. 30 against N.C. A&T.
It’s very important to me,” Richardson said. “Before the 7-4 season (in 1996), the last winning season I had was my sophomore season in high school.

“This year, I want to go out with a bang. I really want to get the fan base back to Johnson C. Smith and make it not just a basketball school.”