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Colts to Reportedly Work Out Liberty League Kicker Andrew Franks

By Luke Schultheis

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The Indianapolis Colts could be kicking the tires on an heir apparent to their 42-year old future Hall of Fame kicker in Adam Vinatieri or simply looking for another training camp leg.

According to NFL Draft Diamonds, the Colts along with the Miami Dolphins are scheduled to have a work out with RPI Engineers placekicker (Division III) Andrew Franks in Troy, New York:

The 6’1, 205 pound Franks played in all 11 games for the Engineers last season, where he had 57 kickoffs that averaged 61.4 yards per kickoff and an impressive 33 touchbacks. He handled both kicking and punting responsibilities for RPI, although it looks as though kicking is his strong suit as he made 16 of 25 attempted kicks, three of which were 50+ yard field goals, including a 54-yarder which was a school record. He also had 45 punts, where he averaged 38.6 yards per punt.

Franks set numerous school records while with the Engineers and was named the Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year. Additionally, he received other honors by making the All-Liberty 1st-Team as a kicker and All-Liberty Second-Team as a punter. He was also a Liberty League All-Academic, as he had a very impressive collegiate career to say the least.

Oct 5, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts holder Pat McAfee(1) congratulates kicker Adam Vinatieri after making a field goal against the Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium. Colts won, 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

One can’t help but see the resemblance to current Colts All-Pro punter Pat McAfee, who handled both kicking and punting responsibilities as a member of the West Virginia Mountaineers and was clearly a jack-of-all-trades standout in the special teams game before being drafted by the Colts in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Even though he clearly went to a small school, Franks does stand out on paper as a special teams standout himself. While Adam Vinatieri clearly showed no signs of slowing down last season as the Colts placekicker,  making 30 of 31 attempts (96.8%) in the regular season, the ageless wonder won’t be able to play forever and is set to enter his 20th NFL season.

More than likely, the Colts are looking at Franks as an extra camp leg like we saw with current Eagles placekicker Cody Parkey, who spent last year’s preseason with Indianapolis before being traded. However, no one can blame the team for performing their due diligence on uncovering a potential diamond in the rough in a small school sleeper like Franks, especially with Vinatieri’s advanced football age.

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