AFL NOTES: The Desperados signed Donvetis Franklin on May 2, 2008 to the team's practice squad. The six-year veteran has previously played for the Austin Wranglers (2006), Columbus Destroyers (2005) and New York Dragons (2002-04) to tally 435 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 86 pass breakups, 15 interceptions, five forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries in his career.

AFL 2007: Franklin spent the entire year out of football, rehabbing a back injury suffered during the 2006 season.

AFL 2006 (Austin): He played in all 16 games with 14 starts, finishing second on the team with 91.5 tackles while also contributing a tackle for loss, 17 pass breakups, one interception, two forced fumbles and a a fumble recovery returned 36 yards for a touchdown. Franklin opened the season with 4.5 tackles and a pass breakup against Las Vegas (1/27). He made eight tackles and a pass breakup at Arizona (2/3). Franklin made a season-high three pass breakups along with two tackles at Tampa (2/25). He posted seven stops against Orlando (3/25) and at Philadelphia (3/31). Franklin contributed eight tackles against Tampa (4/15) He tallied a season-high nine tackles along with a pass breakup against Columbus (4/29). Franklin ended the regular season at Orlando (5/12) with his first interception of the season for 33 yards while also adding 7.5 tackles.

AFL 2005 (Columbus): While with the Columbus Destroyers, Franklin started all 16 games in his fourth AFL season. Finished second on the team in tackles with 75, missing first by just one tackle. Added 1.5 tackles for a loss of two yards,15 pass breakups, one forced fumble. He scored two touchdowns with one coming from a 37-yard fumble return and one from a 10-yard interception return. On special teams, Franklin returned one missed field goal for 33 yards and seven kick returns for 145 yards. Franklin posted 10.5 tackles in the season-opener against Nashville (1/28). He had nine tackles and a pass breakup against Chicago (2/19) to earn Defensive Player of the Game honors. Franklin returned a missed field goal 33 yards at Grand Rapids (2/27). Franklin contributed 7.5 tackles and a pass breakup against Las Vegas (3/12). At Colorado (3/20) he tallied a season-high three pass breakups along with four tackles. Franklin made his first interception of the season against New York (3/26) and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown while also adding four tackles toe earn Defensive Player of the Game honors. He posted 6.5 stops and a pass breakup against Dallas (4/22). At New York (5/7) he totaled 5.5 tackles and two pass breakups while also returning one kickoff for 31 yards. Franklin closed out the season with 6.5 tackles, two pass breakups and returned two kickoffs for a season-high 54 yards against Tampa (5/22).

AFL 2004 (New York): He started all 16 games for the New York Dragons and was New York's leading tackler for the third consecutive season after recording 84.5, which was good for fourth in the AFL. He also added 3.5 tackles for a loss of four yards, three interceptions for 20 yards and 19 pass breakups. Franklin returned 14 kicks for 291 yards on the year. Franklin made 6.5 tackles and two pass breakups against Dallas (2/22) to earn Defensvie Player of the Game honors. He posted a career-high 11.5 tackles, two pass breakups and returned five kickoffs for a career-high 145 yards against San Jose (3/7). At Tampa (3/14) Franklin tallied seven stops. He recorded his first interception of the season against Columbus (3/20) while also adding 3.5 tackles and a season-high three pass breakups. Franklin totaled 11 tackles adn two pass breakups against Colorado (4/18) to earn Defensive Player of the Game honors. He had back-to-back interceptions at Philadelphia (4/24) and at Dallas (5/1), while also making four tackles against the Soul and five tackles against the Desperados, respectively. Franklin returned four kickoffs for 85 yards and added three tackles and two pass breakups against Los Angeles (5/16). Franklin made eight stops and two pass breakups against Carolina (5/8).

AFL 2003 (New York): Franklin started all 16 games for the Dragons and was the AFL leader in tackles with 93.5 in 2003. In his breakout season, he added 2.5 tackles for a loss, four interceptions for 21 yards, 21 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. On special teams, he had 42 kick returns for 816 yards and one touchdown, while returning six missed field goals for 115 yards. Helping the Dragons to a playoff berth, Franklin contributed 12.5 tackles, one interception and two breakups to go along with nine kickoff returns for 116 yards in two games. He opened the season at Dallas (2/2) with seven tackles. He tallied 8.5 tackles and a season-high four pass breakups against Indiana (2/9). Franklin had 6.5 tackles Orlando (3/2). At Detroit (3/16) Franklin recorded his first interception of the season along with a season-high nine tackles and two pass breakups. At Chicago (3/23) he returned six kickoffs for 131 yards and a missed field goal for 18 yards along with 2.5 tackles and an interception. Franklin made 7.5 tackles, a career-high-tying two interceptions, three kickoff returns for 72 yards and a missed field goal returned for 42 yards against Colorado (3/30). He posted eight tackles, a pass breakup and five kickoff returns for 129 yards against Buffalo (4/6). Franklin totaled 8.5 tackles against Detroit (4/19) along with two pass breakups. Franklin returned a career-high eight kickoffs for 119 yards against Tampa (4/27). At Las Vegas (5/3) he made eight tackles and returned six kickoffs for 105 yards. Franklin returned five kickoffs for 105 yards and 5.5 tackles and a pass breakup at Carolina (5/16).

AFL 2002 (New York): In his rookie season, he started all 14 games for the New York Dragons and led the team in tackles with 90.5. Had a season-high six interceptions for 62 yards and one touchdown, 14 pass breakups and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Franklin began his AFL career at Los Angeles (4/19) with 6.5 tackles and a pass breakup. He had 7.5 tackles and three pass breakups against Buffalo (4/28). Franklin made 9.5 tackles and a pass breakup at Indiana (5/4). He made the first interception of his career against Dallas (5/11) and returned it 25 yards for his first career touchdown while also adding nine tackles and two pass breakups. At New Jersey (5/18) Franklin posted 10.5 tackles and a pass breakup. He recorded a career-high two interceptions against Detroit (5/24) along with four tackles and three pass breakups. At Buffalo (6/8) Franklin totaled a career-high four pass breakups along with eight tackles. He tallied a season-high 11 tackles against Grand Rapids (7/13).

COLLEGE: Franklin played for the Big Ten's Michigan State Spartans for two seasons after transferring from Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. Was a member of the 2000 Michigan State team that defeated Florida in the Citrus Bowl and finished in the Top 10. He earned JUCO Honorable Mention All-American as a sophomore with 68 tackles and two interceptions at Hutchinson.

PERSONAL: He played at Douglas Byrd Senior High School in his home town of Fayetteville, North Carolina.