CFL: Ottawa Redblacks add European League of Football star Marloshawn Franklin Jr

| American Football | 04/16/2022

The Ottawa Redblacks have added European League of Football standout Marloshawn Franklin Jr. to their roster. The American defensive back joins former European opponents Anthony Mahoungou and Seantavius Jones on the Redblacks 2022 roster.

The 5’11 190-pound cornerback played last season with the Hamburg Sea Devils in Germany, making 22 tackles, two interceptions, while forcing and two fumbles, and recording one tackle for loss in only six games.

The Detroit, Michigan native is familiar with the CFL after spending the 2019 pre-season with the BC Lions and being signed by the Montreal Alouettes in 2020 prior to the season’s pandemic related cancellation. Now, after a year of playing in the Fan-Controlled-Football-League and European League of Football, Franklin Jr. finds himself back in Canada again.

Before his international pro-career, Franklin Jr. played at Mesa Community College (Juco) between 2014 and 2015 prior to moving on to the University of California Berkley (NCAA D1). The junior college transfer made an immediate impact with the Golden Bears starting 22 games, recording 60 tackles, one sack, and eight pass deflections in two seasons. After his college days, Franklin Jr. was invited to NFL minicamps with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

The former Hamburg Sea Devil now becomes the fifth player to make the jump from the ELF to the CFL in the past year. Expect other players with international experience to join the CFL as the Global Draft begins May 3rd.

Watch Franklin Jr’s ELF highlights here: 

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and