| Q: Can you talk about your decision
to go pro early? Franks: That was a decision I made with my family, and the coaching
staff supported me. Coach (Butch) Davis, the University of Miami head coach, he told me
that either way I went, he was going to support me. My mom thought it was time for me to
leave. So I decided to come out early. … I felt I accomplished everything I could as
a tight end. As a teammate and teamwise, we could have won a national championship, but
I’ve got to look past that.
Q: How would you assess your blocking ability?
Franks: That’s something you can always improve on. I have improved my blocking
since my freshman year. So that’s an extra (asset) I can bring to the NFL table. I
think it’s pretty good right now.
Q: If you were to compare yourself to a current NFL tight end, who would it be?
Franks: I don’t think there’s one tight end I could compare myself to. I try
to take a little bit from all of them. A little from Ben Coates, a little from Shannon
(Sharpe), a little from Wesley Walls, a little from Kyle (Brady). I’m pretty much all
of them in one.
Q: Does anyone ever call you Daniel?
Franks: When they first meet me, they call me Daniel. Once they get to know me, they
call me Bubba.
Q: Where did you get the nickname?
Franks: My mom gave me that nickname. There are different kinds of stories. I
don’t know which one to believe now.
Q: What’s your favorite story?
Franks: I called my bottle "Bubba." I would only come to her when she had my
bottle. I would ask for my bottle and say, "Bubba."
Q: What’s the worst story?
Franks: My stepfather used to be named Bubba. I was at a birthday party when I was,
like, 1 year old. It was at McDonald’s, and I got so full that I was rolling on the
ground. (My mom) called my stepfather "Bubba," and I just jumped up and started
laughing.
Q: There are conflicting reports on whether you’re a good cook. What’s the
scoop?
Franks: I cook when I have to. I’m from a large family. My mother didn’t like
cooking all the time, and I was the next one. … I was a middle child, but when the
oldest two moved out, I had to cook for the youngest two. I’m not no chef but …
Q: What’s your signature dish?
Franks: My teammates at Miami will argue that. They’d probably say it’s
Hamburger Helper. |
