#21

Josh Franklin

Former defensive back at Western Michigan. 2024: 1 interception, 2 pass breakups, 19 tackles.

DB · Western Michigan · So. · #21

6′0″ · 175 lb · Crete, IL

CFB Index 26 · #462 of 537 safetiesLow confidenceAll-ConferenceWestern Michigan 2024 — college career complete

Recruiting

3★

ATH recruit

No. 2381 nationally · Signed with Western Michigan

No college snaps yet.

His career numbers, season by season

The story

Former defensive back at Western Michigan. 2024: 1 interception, 2 pass breakups, 19 tackles.

Signed as a 3-star recruit to Western Michigan in 2023.

His career, year by year

How it ended

Two seasons at Western Michigan, 21 tackles — his college career is complete.

His career

Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.

2023

Signed with Western Michigan3-star out of Crete-Monee

2025

Entered the portal
All-MACthird

Career arc

Recruit

★★★

#2381 national

CFB

College

Western Michigan

2023–2024

NFL

NFL Draft

—

Not drafted

Trophy case · Confirmed honors

What the selectors said

2 honors · 1 category

🎖

ALL-MAC

All-MAC mention (2025)

2024 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2 seasons under Lance Taylor — 10-15 over that span.

2023Western Michigan4-8HC: Lance Taylor · Run-leaning

2024Western Michigan6-7HC: Lance Taylor · Run-leaning, slow tempo

Where this defender ranks vs the field

Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort

26Below cohort / limited sample #462 of 537?

Medium confidence8 metrics · season cumulative

Concern: tackles for loss (7th percentile).

Box-score production (8)

QB hurries#585 / 2892 · 74th pct

Passes defended#755 / 2892 · 67th pct

Solo tackles#1430 / 2892 · 49th pct

Forced fumbles#55 / 700 · 46th pct

Interceptions#314 / 862 · 32nd pct

Tackles#2061 / 2892 · 27th pct

Sacks#1455 / 2892 · 25th pct

0.0

Tackles for loss#2477 / 2892 · 7th pct

0.0

Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.

Splits & context

Splits · Per-game

2024 season · 10 games

Home/Road · Season halves

Home vs Road

	TKL/g	TFL/g	SACK/g	PD/g
Home4g	1.5	0.0	0.0	0.2
Road6g	2.2	0.0	0.0	0.2

First half vs Second half

	TKL/g	TFL/g	SACK/g	PD/g
Weeks 1-77g	1.7	0.0	0.0	0.1
Weeks 8+3g	2.3	0.0	0.0	0.3

Supporting cast · Scheme

Staff and system around the player

2026 season

Head Coach

Lance Taylor

Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.

Awards

Player standing · 2024

Rotational

Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.

Recognition

Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex

Production · CFB Index Score

26 · #462 of 537 safeties

Three-star recruit. Now #462 at the position.

Career stats

Season	Team
2024	Western Michigan	19	15	2	1	--
2023	Western Michigan	2	2	--	--	--
Career		21	17	2	1	--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2024

W 59–31

vs Bethune-Cookman

1 TOT · 1 SOLO

Dominant 28-point win at home against Bethune-Cookman.

With H. Wolff — 305 yds · 3 TD · 1 INT · QBR 87.1 · -2 rush yds (2 car) · J. Nixon — 189 rush yds (17 car) · 2 TD

Game log

Game log · Week-by-week

2024 season · 10 games

Box score · CFBD

Wk	Opp	TKL	SOLO	INT	PD	Note
Wk 1	L 14-28@ Wisconsin	2	1	—	0
Wk 2	L 0-56@ Ohio State	4	3	—	0	Season-high 4 tackles
Wk 3	W 59-31vs Bethune-Cookman	1	1	—	0
Wk 5	L 20-27@ Marshall	1	1	—	0
Wk 6	W 45-42@ Ball State	2	1	—	0
Wk 7	W 34-24vs Akron	2	1	—	0
Wk 8	W 48-41@ Buffalo	3	3	—	0
Wk 9	W 52-21vs Kent State	3	3	—	0
Wk 13	L 14-16@ Central Michigan	1	1	—	1
Bowl	L 23-30vs South Alabama	0	0	1	1
Total		19	15	1	2

Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology