This is part of a series of 2009 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 4. All answers are provided by the featured player. Click here for previous entries in the series.

Name: Eric Franklin
Birthdate: Feb. 12, 1991
Birthplace: Baltimore
Hometown: Baltimore
Nicknames: E
Height: 6’3
Weight: 200
Position: Safety
High School: Archbishop Curley
Senior statistics: 80 tackles, seven interceptions. 13 receptions, three touchdowns.
Rankings: Rivals.com -- Two stars. Scout.com -- Two stars, No. 117 safety.
Bench max: 250
40-yard dash: 4.6
Runner-up: Richmond or Akron
Other schools considered: Duke, Virginia, Bryant, Buffalo
Favorite NFL player: Ed Reed
Favorite NFL team: Baltimore Ravens
Favorite all-time Terp: Jack Scarbath (“I went to school with his grandson.”)
Favorite music: Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Jay-Z, 50 Cent
Favorite book: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Favorite movie: Pineapple Express
Favorite TV show: South Park
Favorite food: Fried chicken
Favorite high school class: Math
Favorite thing about College Park: “The people.”
Other high school sports: Basketball and track
Hobbies: “Hanging out with my friends.”
Intended major: Civil engineering
Something that not many people know about you: “I have a deformed right pinky. When I was positioned in my mom’s belly, my hand was up against the side. So basically I’m missing one bone in my pinky.”
Best football moment: “In rec football I caught a touchdown pass with a minute left in the game that sent us to the championship game in the playoffs. I was 13.”
Role model: “My grandma taught me to be really tough and not complain; basically to suck it up.”
Why Maryland? “I like the people and the engineering program is really great. The football team and the coaching staff are just great people.”