One year ago, James Franklin turned heads with a sprint that felt straight out of an NFL Combine. After witnessing Olu Fashanu become the No. 11 overall pick by the New York Jets in Waldorf, Maryland, the Penn State HC booked it 60 miles north to Gaithersburg just in time to catch Chop Robinson get scooped up by the Miami Dolphins at No. 21. The sequence went viral, and rightly so—how often does a college coach log two first-round draft parties in one night, with a pit stop in between?

Now, as the 2025 NFL Draft looms, Franklin’s schedule is shaping up to be just as chaotic—if not more complicated. Penn State is once again staring down the barrel of a first-round double. Linebacker Abdul Carter is pegged as a lock for the top five, and tight end Tyler Warren is rising steadily into that late-first-round conversation. But this time, there’s no convenient drive between destinations. Carter will be walking the stage in Green Bay, while Warren is holding it down with his family back in Virginia. James Franklin has no shot of doing both live—but he’s determined to make it work his way.

“I’m going to,” Franklin said, breaking down his plan during an appearance with Blue White Illustrated. “Myself Deion, Ty Howle’s wife, a few of the media people, internal media—we’re going to fly down, have lunch with Tyler and his grandparents and his parents and his entire family during the day because there’s no way to be with both of them at the same time.” Warren won’t be in Green Bay, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be alone. “Tyler will stay there, and Karen will stay there, um, and have… celebrate with Tyler Warren, and then they’ll rent a car and drive back,” Franklin explained. “And then we’ll fly out to Green Bay and celebrate with Abdul. And then as soon as that happens, jump on the plane and fly back ’cause we got things we got to get done.”

The logistics read more like a presidential campaign swing than a draft day itinerary. Yet for Franklin, it’s all part of the job. “Last year, I think we had two guys drafted in the first round,” he recalled. “I think it was only six programs in the country that had two guys drafted in the first round. We’ll have two guys drafted most likely again in the first round, so that list will shrink.” That blend of pride and ambition defines Franklin’s approach—never missing a moment, especially one as rare as this.

There’s more to it than just showing face. This isn’t about Instagram likes or program clout. It’s about a head coach investing personally in his players, honoring the relationships built over years of grind and sacrifice. Carter has become a generational linebacker talent under Franklin’s watch, while Warren blossomed into one of the most complete tight ends in college football. Both have represented Nittany Lions with a level of consistency and toughness that James Franklin often praises. Warren for his blocking grit and red zone impact, and Carter for being the sideline-to-sideline enforcer who changed the tempo of entire games.

And for Franklin, missing either of their big moments isn’t an option—even if it means jumping time zones and playing catch-up with phone calls in between. “Obviously I also want to make sure that I’m calling and I’m in touch with all the other guys,” Franklin added. “Because I’d love to be at all of theirs, right? And all of them are having draft parties.” With spring practices paused for a day, Franklin and TE coach Ty Howle will make the Virginia lunch a priority. From there, Howle and his wife will stay behind with Warren’s family, while Franklin links up with D-line coach Deion Barnes for the flight to Green Bay.

“I’m kinda pissed,” Franklin joked on his coaches’ radio show, referencing the impossible challenge of cloning himself for draft night. But he’s still going to try.

Franklin’s Green Bay reunion comes with NFL dreams and Draft drama

For PSU coach James Franklin, this year’s NFL Draft is a full-circle moment, with a twist of nostalgia and a whole lot of pride. As he saw Robinson walk across the stage, Franklin kept his phone close. He plans to check in with the rest of his draft hopefuls—Kevin Winston Jr., Jaylen Reed, and Kobe King—who are all waiting to hear their names called over the weekend.

“It was much more convenient when both of our first-round draft choices were in the state of Maryland,” Franklin joked, referencing previous drafts. Still, he’s thrilled to see Carter and Warren potentially become the third pair of Lions drafted in the first round under his watch, joining Micah Parsons and Odafe Oweh (2021) and Olu Fashanu and Adisa Isaac (2024). “Either way, it’s a blessing.”

And while Franklin’s excited for his players, this trip to Green Bay has personal significance. He last set foot in the city during his lone season as the Packers’ wide receivers coach in 2005, before the entire staff was let go. “It’s changed a lot,” he noted, remembering it as “similar to a college town.” This time, the vibes are much better.