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Any doubts about Dominique Franks’ abilities on the football field were quickly dispelled during the first game of his senior season at Tulsa Union. During that game, Franks rushed for a touchdown, returned an interception for a touchdown and recorded six solo tackles. To top things off, he added a 61-yard kickoff return to his efforts.

Franks is ranked as the No. 1 cornerback in Oklahoma and is also among the top 15 nationally at the position. Heavily recruited by the Sooners, Miami, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas State, Nebraska, Arizona State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Iowa State, Kansas and Colorado, Franks had narrowed his search to Oklahoma, Tennessee, Miami and USC before family issues finally made him decide to become a member of OU's extended family.

Sooner Spectator caught up with Franks this week and asked him about his decision, the future and a whole lot more:

Sooner Spectator: You played tailback your sophomore year at Owasso and your senior year at Union. What prompted you to make the change to cornerback your senior year?

Franks: I played more cornerback my junior year than tailback because I didn’t fit the bill as a Union running back; they’re more of a one-back set and I was used to playing in a two-back set.

SS: After being so heavily recruited nationally, what factors led you to commit to the Sooners?

Franks: Besides the tradition, the main consideration was that my father passed away a week after my birthday. My father had urged me to look outside the area because the Big 12 wasn’t really a passing conference. But now I have to stay close to my family because if I needed to come home for any reason, Norman is much closer. Most of my family lives in Oklahoma City. My mother, grandmother and family come to my football games and I wanted them to be able to follow my college career.

SS: So your on campus visit to Norman went well?

Franks: My visit went real nice. I bonded with the players and coaches. I liked the way they treated each other…they really care about one another. It was like a family.

SS: Who was your host during your visit?

Franks: Reggie Smith.

SS: Do you have any friends at OU that you keep up with?

Franks: I’ve got a lot of friends that go to OU: Reggie Smith, D.J. Wolfe, Quentin Chaney, Mossis Madu, Sam Bradford and Chad Roark

SS: Which coach spent the most time recruiting you?

Franks: I’d have to say Coach (Bobby Jack) Wright, my position coach. I spent a lot of time with him.

SS: How does it feel to be part of the Sooner family?

Franks: Oh man, I’m really excited. I can’t wait to get down there and make new friends and get into a new program and a new system.

SS: With your basketball background, are you interested in playing that sport at OU as well as football?

Franks: No, I’m going to concentrate on my football career.

SS: Did the tradition at the University of Oklahoma play a role in you decision?

Franks: Oh yes. When I sat down and had a one on one visit with Coach Stoops, he told me that there’s no other program with the winning tradition that Oklahoma has. And with me being an Oklahoman, well, it was a perfect fit. He mentioned that all of the people in the state had been watching me play in high school and now they can keep following my career in college.

SS: What strengths do you feel like you bring to the football field?

Franks: I believe my biggest strength going into a game is that my coaches know that I can shut down one side of the field.

SS: Have you been influenced by any established players?

Franks: Not really. I just go out and play my own game. I used to watch Deion (Sanders) and admired the way he could shut down an entire side of the field…the quarterback wouldn’t even look his way. That’s kind of how I want it to be. When they do throw it my way, I can either pic it or break it up and not have anyone throw the ball my way anymore.

SS: OU has sent several defensive backs to the NFL in recent years — Roy Williams, Andre Woolfolk, Derrick Strait, Brodney Pool and Antonio Perkins. How does it feel to be following in their footsteps?

Franks: I really don’t look at it like that. I plan to just go in there and play my game and hopefully I can start my own legacy down there.

SS: As you know, OU took a hit at cornerback after graduation.You’ve stated that you’re optimistic that you’ll get playing time next year.

Franks: There’s an opportunity for me to step in and make a contribution my first year and I’m looking forward to that.