Dwayne Frampton’s Long Road to the NFL Draft

Audio/Story posted April 12, 2012 in NFL Draft by Patrick Woo.



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Dwayne Frampton found his way to Jonesboro, Arkansas from South Los Angeles. His father spent most of his life incarcerated, and now Frampton himself is a father to a three-year old.

Frampton had to escape from gang influences to avoid being a statistic, he said.

“Out here, I never thought I was going to make it to see 18,” he said. “They turn innocents into militants.”

The record-setting receiver turned to the sport he’d been playing since the age of 5 and became the all-time leading receiver in just two years at Arkansas State.

His new focus now is on the NFL, a dream that became a bigger challenge when Frampton was forced to begin his career at the junior college level because of his high school grades and not being focused.

“I wasn’t taking school serious but junior college was a blessing in disguise for me,” he said.

At Los Angeles Harbor College, Frampton was a Junior College All-America selection with 1,246 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

Still, Frampton didn’t garner attention from big-time programs and transferred to Arkansas State, where he set more records that got him noticed.

“The only reason I think I might have a legitimate draft opportunity is because of the records that I broke,” Frampton said.

Frampton finished his senior season 12th in the nation with 94 receptions as the Sun Belt Conference’s leading receiver. His 163 career catches is the Arkansas State record.

"Nothing was too difficult because of my work ethic," Frampton said of his time with Arkansas State.

Frampton, at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, will have to transition to a new role at the next level. He compared himself to New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker.

“Slot receiver: Wes Welker type of guy,” Frampton said about his projected role in the NFL. “I sit in holes. I know how to read defenses well. Nine times out of ten, I’m going to be making the catch.”

In fact, the Patriots have expressed interest, Frampton said, but so too have the division rival New York Jets, who could nab Frampton in the late rounds of this month’s NFL Draft as a value pick.

As a projected late-rounder, more difficult challenges await. Frampton’s three-year old son needs care and Frampton admits that the finances can be tough to manage.

"Stuff is starting to cost," he said. "He's getting more expensive."

Frampton will have to fight for a spot on the roster and persevere through an NFL starting salary for his position.

“We don’t have a lot of money,” Frampton said. “I am the breaking point. I am the one that could change all that. I take that and use it as motivation every time I step on that gridiron.

“I never really had the opportunity to have a father around due to incarceration. I didn’t really know how it feels to have one, but I know my son wouldn’t want to feel that.”

Faith also played a big role for Frampton escaping what could have been a life of violence. His goal is to make it big and give money to his church and family.

“Give a little back every chance I get,” Frampton said. “That’s where my heart is.”

He regularly stays awake until 1 a.m., working and watching film. He’s ready to continue that work ethic.

“I’m sleeping in the film room as soon as camp starts,” he said.

From avoiding being a statistic in a rough neighborhood to avoiding being a statistic in the NFL of players that don’t make it, Frampton wants to do more for his son and in honor of a friend he lost years ago.

“I won’t be outworked by anybody,” he said. “I’m not going to leave the field until it’s right. I don’t care what time it is. I don’t care how long I have to stay.”

Patrick Woo is a sophomore majoring in Journalism and is a ComRadio Sports Director. To contact him, email pww5053@psu.edu.