Chris Franklin, UT Martin RB: the 2026 season story
Chris Franklin is a junior running back for UT Martin (OVC). He ranks 320th of 575 running backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every running back on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked running back, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Chris Franklin's strongest measure is rush yards per game at 45, 141st of 299 (the average is 49). His weakest is yards per carry at 3.5, 286th of 299 (the average is 5.1).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His rush yards per game, 45, ranks 141st among 299 ranked running backs.
Against every running back
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked running backs he sits, on average, in the 43rd percentile for volume, 22nd for efficiency and 53rd for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 10 games, Chris Franklin's best came in week 2 at West Virginia and his quietest in week 7 against Gardner-Webb.
When it matters
Why it matters. Third downs, the red zone and games against good teams are where drives and seasons are decided.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every running back on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Chris Franklin is 103rd of 276 FCS running backs and 5th of 17 in the OVC. Next up nationally is Delon Thompson of Portland State, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. A player's track record is the best guide to whether a season like this one is likely to last. This is his best season by the Player Index so far, out of 2 we have.
Running backs like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Jalyn Daniels of Norfolk State.
