Franklin headed back to Michigan State

Not long ago Eric Franklin was in East Lansing to watch the Michigan State-Central Michigan game, and now the three-star offensive lineman is making a return trip to see the Spartans again.

This weekend Michigan State takes on archrival Michigan, and the fortunes for those two programs has changed quite a bit since last season. The Spartans found themselves in a New Year's Day Bowl last season while Michigan posted a losing record. This year the Wolverines are back in the top 25 and Michigan State is struggling at 1-3.

Nonetheless, Michigan State is a school that Franklin feels very good about and he couldn't pass up another opportunity to check the school out.

"I'm going to the Michigan State game against Michigan this weekend," Franklin explained. "It's not going to be an official. I'm not taking any officials until the season's over with. This weekend I'm leaving a little early to check out the campus."

While Franklin won't be taking officials for a while that hasn't meant things have been moving slowly by any means. He plans on taking in a game next weekend as well.

"Next week I'm going to the Ohio State-Wisconsin game over at OSU," he continued. "I'll get out there a little early if I can, too."

Franklin said it has been difficult for him to talk to coaches lately because of his practice schedule. Ordinarily he hangs out with his teammates after practice, so that makes it even tougher to stay up to date with colleges.

The 6-foot-7, 290-pound tackle from Youngstown (Ohio) Cardinal Mooney also plans on making it out to Pitt for a game soon. The Panthers invited him to their game against UConn this weekend, but that conflicted with his trip to Michigan State.