'Canes TE Franks headed for NFL

Posted: Thursday January 06, 2000 01:00 PM

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -- As expected, Miami Hurricanes tight end Bubba Franks will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.

Franks, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound blocker with good hands and speed, is regarded as a first-round pick. He caught 45 passes for 565 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season. He added three receptions for 72 yards in Miami's 28-13 win over Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl.

"I'm declaring," Franks said. "It was a hard decision. It's not easy when you're leaving a program like this. I could have stayed and could have won a national championship. But I figured I'm ready."

Franks said he reached his decision after speaking with his mother, coach Butch Davis and three former Hurricanes who are playing in the NFL. Two of the three former Miami players left school early, including Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Edgerrin James.

Franks said James, his former roommate at Miami, had checked with the Colts' front office and the response was favorable.

"They said I should be somewhere in the first round," Franks said.

But Franks said the biggest influence was his mother, Janice, who lives in Midland, Texas.

"My mom felt it was time for me to move on," Franks said. "There's not too much more I could have done."

Franks, a three-time All-Big East selection, said he had not officially notified the NFL. The deadline for underclassmen to apply for the draft is Monday.

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