#1

Joshua Franklin

DB · Western Michigan · Jr. · #1

Returning to Western Michigan for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Joshua Franklin

DB · Western Michigan · Jr · #1

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
Western Michigan
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Western Michigan10-4HC: Lance Taylor · Run-heavy

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Western Michigan53325.51.510--2
Career53325.51.510--2

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 5 · 2025

W 47–14

vs Rhode Island

3 TOT  ·  2 SOLO  ·  0 TFL

Dominant 33-point win at home against Rhode Island.

How he plays

Play style

Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Western Michigan

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive back · Western Michigan

Returning around him

  • 100% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • Transfer portal: +1 net (14 in / 13 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Western Michigan · Last season: 10-4 · Talent rank #105 · 2026 recruiting class #111

DNA match

Player DNA

Rover

Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away.

S

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Natrone Brooks’s 2020 season.

Southern Miss · 2020

#2

Lemondre Joe

Colorado State · 2025

70%
#3

Josh DeBerry

Texas A&M · 2023

69%
#4

Quinton Newsome

Nebraska · 2022

68%
#5

Josh Wallace

Massachusetts · 2021

68%

Matches Natrone on

Height
Class year
TFL rate

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Raion Strader's freshman season at Miami (OH) (2023).

Miami (OH) · 2023

All-MAC
#2

Mister Clark

Florida International · 2025

All-Conference USA
73%
#3

Dyoni Hill

Marshall · 2023

72%
#4

Darian Chestnut

Syracuse · 2021

72%
#5

Milton Bugg III

Air Force · 2021

68%

Matches Raion on

Class year
Tackle volume
Weight

Differs from Raion on

TFL rate (higher)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #9329

Final rank
#9547
Avg #9454.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #9329 this season.