MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) standout Andrew Franks '15 has been named the starting kicker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). An undrafted free agent, he will become the first student-athlete from RPI to play in an NFL regular season game when the Dolphins play the Washington Redskins on September 13 (1pm).
"I'm incredibly grateful to Miami for giving me this opportunity to realize my dream. I'm looking forward to doing great things here.#phinsup," Franks tweeted roughly 15 minutes after the news broke late Saturday afternoon.
Franks, who graduated with a biomedical engineering degree in May, had an outstanding training camp, consistently making field goals and drawing touchbacks on kickoffs. His longest field goal in preseason was 51 yards, which came on August 29 against the Atlanta Falcons.
One of the most celebrated student-athletes in school history, the Carmel, Calif., native was a multiple National All-America as a senior, earning Little AP, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D3football honors. Franks, a graduate of Carmel High School, was the Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year for the second straight season and a unamimous All-League First Team selection as a kicker. He was All-Liberty League Second Team as a punter. He was also named to the D3football.com All-East Region First Team for the third consecutive season and was selected to participate in the National Bowl.
In 11 games in 2014, Franks made 16 of 25 field goal attempts, including three of at least 50 yards. He set the school record of 54 yards - the longest in NCAA Division III in 2014 - on October 25 and established a new record at Springfield College's Stagg Field with a 52 yarder. Among the other field goal distances he made were 51, 43 & 39 yards. Franks also made 30 point after attempts and led the team with 78 points. On 57 kickoffs, he averaged 61.4 yards with 33 touchbacks.
He was also RPI's punter, averaging 38.6 yards per kick (45 att. for 1738 yards) with 12 that landed inside the 20 yard line.
In 2013, Franks connected on 9 of 11 field goal attempts, including a school record five in a single game, while leading all conference kickers in scoring during the regular season with 53 points. He was 5 for 7 from 40 yards and beyond while also tying his own school record with a 50 yard field goal. He averaged 63.3 yards per kickoff (46 for 2,910 yards), including 20 touchbacks. Franks averaged 36.1 yards on 57 punts (2,058 yards), including a 62 yard long, with 19 inside the 20-yard line. He was chosen to the All-Liberty League First (kicker) and Second (punter) Teams, along with Special Teams Player of the Year.
As a sophomore, Franks made 8 of 14 field goals, including a school record 50-yarder against Union College in the Dutchman Shoes Trophy Game. He also made a 43-yard attempt and hit 31 of 34 extra-points, including going 8-for-8 in one contest, to finish with 55 points. On kickoffs, he had 53 attempts for 3225 yards (60.8 avg.) with 23 going for touchbacks. He was an All-Liberty League First Team selection after earning All-League Honorable Mention as a freshman.
For his career, Franks made 37 of 56 field goals and 115 of 123 point-after-touchdowns for 226 points. He averaged 61.2 yards on 202 kickoffs with 85 touchbacks. He established school records for career field goals (37), career touchbacks (85) and touchbacks in a season (33). A three-time Liberty League All-Academic honoree, he compiled 3,796 yards on 102 punt attempts with 31 that landed inside the 20-yard line.
His collegiate honors and accomplishments included:
2014
- D3football.com All-America First Team
- AP Little All-America Second Team
- AFCA All-America
- All-ECAC Division III North First Team
- D3football.com All-Region First Team
- National Bowl participant
- Liberty League All-Academic
- Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year
- All-Liberty League First Team (unanimous)
- All-Liberty League Second Team (punter)
- D3football.com National Team of the Week once
- ECAC Northwest Special Teams Player of the Week twice
- Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week five times
- School record for field goals in a career (37)
- School record for touchbacks in a career (85)
- Second in school history in point-after-touchdowns in a career (115)
- Third in school history in punting average in a career (37.2 yards)
- School record for touchbacks in a season (33)
- Second in school history for field goals in a season (16)
- Springfield's Stagg Field record for longest made field goal (52 yards on Nov. 8)
- School record for longest made field goal (54 yards on Oct. 25)
- School record for longest made field goal (51 yards on Oct. 25)
- Longest field goal in Division III (54 yards on October 25)
- Second longest field goal in Division III (52 yards on November 8)
- Fifth in Division III in field goals per game (1.45)
- First in Liberty League in field goals per game (1.45)
- First in Liberty League in scoring among kickers (7.1 points per game)
- First in Liberty League in touchbacks (33)
- Second in Liberty League in punting average (38.6 yards per attempt)
- Third in Liberty League in overall scoring (7.1 points per game)
- Third in Liberty League in point-after percentage (96.8%)
- First on team in scoring (78 points)
2013
- D3football.com All-America First Team
- BSN National All-America First Team
- D3football.com All-Region First Team
- Liberty League All-Academic
- Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year
- All-Liberty League First Team
- All-Liberty League Second Team (punter)
- Rensselaer Special Teams Player of the Year
- D3football.com National Team of the Week once
- ECAC North West Special Teams Player of the Week twice
- Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week three times
- Tied school record for longest made field goal (50 yards on Sept. 14)
- School record for field goals in a game (5 on Sept. 14)
- Tenth in Division III in field goal percentage (.818)
- First in Liberty League in scoring among kickers (5.3 points per game)
- Seventh in Liberty League in overall scoring (5.3 points per game)
- First on team in scoring (53 points)
2012
- D3Football.com All-Region First Team
- All-Liberty League First Team
- Liberty League All-Academic
- School record for touchbacks in a season (23)
- School record for longest made field goal (50 yards on Nov. 10)
- First in Liberty League in scoring among kickers (6.1 points per game)
- First in Liberty League in field goals made (8)
- First in Liberty League in field goals per game (.89)
- Second in Liberty League in field goal percentage (57.1)
- First on team in scoring (55 points)
2011
- All-Liberty League Honorable Mention
- Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week once
- Liberty League Rookie of the Week once