2009

James Franklin

Sr. Running Back

Olathe (Kan.) North HS

Being a tailback at Olathe North High School can be a daunting task, considering the pedigrees of the players who have held the position for the Eagles. Four former Eagles have won the Simone Award, including NFL star Darren Sproles (2000), CFL star Arland Bruce (1995) and collegiate players Maurice Mack (2001) and Jim Bouknight (2002). Franklin is the fifth Eagles tailback to win the award, and gives Olathe North six Simone Award winners overall, the most in the metro area.

Just 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, Franklin nonetheless ran like a battering ram. As a senior, he amassed 2,803 yards and 31 touchdown runs while leading the Eagles to their eighth Kansas 6A Championship. He finished his career with 5, 916 yards to break the career record of the legendary Sproles.

Franklin signed to play college football at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

2009 Simone Award winners (from left) Jordan Chrisman of Blue Springs HS (Buchanan Award), Kansas City Chiefs great Mike Vrabel, Darrenn White of University Academy (Fontana Award), Joe Windsor of Kearney HS (Bell Award), Keeston Terry of Blue Springs HS (Taylor Award), James Franklin of Olathe North HS (Simone Award), former Chiefs great Will Shields and Anthony Simone	Al Wallace of WDAF Fox 4 TV won the 2009 Gordon Docking Award for lifetime achievement in high school sports
2009 Check Presentation	2001 Fontana Award winner Zach Sherman, 2009 Fontana Award winner Darrenn White of University Academy and Fontana Award sponor Chuck Calvert
2009 Simone Award James Franklin enters the Olathe North HS gymnasium	2009 Bell Award winner Joe Windsor of Kearney HS receives the award from 2002 Bell Award winner Charlie Simone
Former Chiefs great Will Shields and 2009 Buchanan Award winner Jordan Chrisman of Blue Springs HS	Otis Taylor Award sponsor and Simone-Fontana Foundation board member John Conforti of C&C Produce and 2009 Taylor Award winner Keeston Terry of Blue Springs HS
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker and three-time Super Bowl Champion Mike Vrabel was the guest speaker at the 2009 Simone Awards at Olathe North HS	Olathe North head football coach Pete Flood
Former Chiefs great Will Shields presented the 2009 Buchanan Award