James Franklin’s Packers connection pays big dividends for Penn State

Christian Driver, the son of Packers legend Donald Driver committed to James Franklin and Penn State Football Thursday, giving the Nittany Lions another four-star athlete

One year with the Green Bay Packers became more fruitful than James Franklin could have imagined for Penn State Football.

Thursday, four-star athlete Christian Driver, the son of Packers legend Donald Driver, committed to Penn State Football, solidifying the Nittany Lions‘ standing as the second-ranked recruiting class in the 2022 cycle, according to 24/7 sports.

Franklin was Donald Driver’s position coach, and that season Driver caught 86 passes for 1,221 yards and five touchdowns.

Driver and Franklin have maintained a friendship ever since their one season together, which was likely a contributing factor in Christian’s decision to choose Happy Valley as his college destination.

Franklin and Penn State won out with Driver, over Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, and Arkansas, among the finalists for his pledge. Driver is the No. 15 ranked safety in this year’s class.

Back in 2019, Donald Driver made a guest appearance at Penn State Football practice, and had high praise for Franklin.

"“He’s a player’s coach,” Driver said, via 24/7 sports. “That’s one thing I love about him. I knew everywhere he went from when he left Green Bay and went to Kansas State and then went on to Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt to Penn State. It’s just been amazing to watch his career. When you have that relationship with someone, he’s more of a player’s coach, friend, who wants to be in with the players. And that’s a good thing.”"

That season, Penn State climbed as high as making an appearance in the College Football Playoff rankings as the No. 4 ranked team for one week, before missing out on a playoff berth but beating Memphis in the Cotton Bowl.

Franklin’s friendship with Driver now gives the Nittany Lions a major victory on the recruiting trail, and perhaps the kind of player who can be a harbinger for success on the field in years to come.