Mean Green

North Texas picked up a second commitment for its 2008 recruiting class in Celina lineman Troy Franklin on Wednesday and laid the foundation for what could turn out to be an impressive haul in the process.

Franklin is rated among the top 50 college football prospects in the area by The Dallas Morning News and fills an immediate need for the Mean Green. UNT landed just two offensive line prospects in its last recruiting class.

Franklin said the opportunity to play for new UNT head coach Todd Dodge was the key factor in his decision.

UNT now has two recruits in the fold for 2008 and both are prominent players in the area. Dallas Hillcrest quarterback Willie Taylor, who projects as a wide receiver in college, has also committed to UNT.

Momentum can play a big role in recruiting and UNT appears to be on a roll at this point. Top high school players want to go where they can win and play with the type of athletes who can help them maximize their potential. If those players are familiar foes from across town, that's even better. Both Taylor and Franklin talked about how attractive the prospect of playing with some of the Dallas' area's top players at UNT proved to be.

UNT's first two recruits in its 2008 class could help build on the momentum the program established with its 2007 class that included a host of Dallas-area players. Rivals.com rated Dodge's first class No. 114 in its national team rankings.

Getting commitments from Franklin and Taylor could be the first step in improving on that ranking next season. Franklin will be a highly rated player in the state and Taylor could also be a top prospect when the rakings come out later this year.

For more on Franklin, see tomorrow's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle or check our Web site at www.dentonrc.com late tonight.