Football | 8/29/2014 2:01:00 PM

While senior running back Terrence Franks is not listed as the starter for Saturday's season opener, Franks has shown the knack for keeping things in perspective. He knows a current situation has no bearing on him being able to set some lofty goals for himself, for the season and for life after football.

"My first and most important goal is to graduate college in December and get my degree. That's a good thing for me," Franks said. "The second thing that I want to do is go and train for the NFL combine and prepare myself for pro day."  

Coach Dennis Franchione regarded Franks as one of the fastest players on the team. So, it makes sense why Franks tries to model after himself after one of the fastest players in the National Football League, former 2000 yard rusher and New York Jets running back Chris Johnson.

"I really like Chris Johnson," Franks said. "(Johnson) is pretty fast. When he gets into the game, he hits the hole pretty hard. He's fast too, just like me.  I compare myself to him and I hope to be like that on the next level."

The Angleton, Texas native has spent his entire colligate career with the Bobcats. He redshirted in 2010 but has played in every game since the 2011 season. Franks led the team in 2011 in rushing with 863 yards, and scored nine touchdowns. He averaged 5.91 yards per rush that season placing him sixth all-time in Texas State history. Franks' numbers earned him a spot on the FCS Independent All-Conference First-Team and garnered him the Bobcat Outstanding Freshman award.

Last season, Franks caught a season-long 67-yard touchdown pass against Idaho and for 2013 campaign rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries. The senior running back caught seven passes for 183 yards and scored twice.

The coaches have seen growth from Franks and hope it translates into a better season this year.

"Watch out for Terrance Franks this upcoming game," Franchione said. "He's been one of our more consistent players from the spring through fall camp. He's improved every step of the way and has made our running back group strong."

Franks has been at Texas State through the transition period of being an FCS football program to becoming and FBS university. The team became the second fastest team to become bowl-eligible after reaching FBS status.

However, the senior running back knows there is work to be done and the focus of the team will need to stay sharp, especially with the changes on both offense and defense.

"The main thing for us as a team is just to stay focused," Franks said. "We just have to come here every day and put in work. Off the field, we just need to watch film and get better every day from that aspect. So, really we just need to stay focused on what we need to do and get better every day."

Last season was a year of firsts for the Bobcats. Texas State played a freshman quarterback, became bowl-eligible for the first time in school history and played in the Sun Belt Conference for the first time. Franks understood what went on for the Bobcats was a little out of the ordinary for the team last year, but feels the team has done a good job in the offseason preparing themselves for what's to come this upcoming season.

"Last year we know we had to do things that were out of the ordinary for a program like us," Franks said. "It was good to be bowl eligible but we know we want to go to the bowl game this season. This year in spring time we've been running the no-huddle offense and defense has a different coordinator who has been getting them in good shape. In the summer time, we came together as team just coming in every day, working hard to reach that goal. Since fall camp has rolled around we feel like we've been hitting our stride."

Franks will be one of the seniors on the team that wants to end his Texas State career in grand ole fashion. He will be looking to help lead the Bobcats to their first ever bowl game in school history. The senior believes this team is capable of winning the conference championship and getting that coveted bowl invite.

"I think this team can do anything it puts its mind to," Franks said. "We preparing every day be ready for this season. Hopefully, we'll be there at the end competing for a championship and throwing our name in the hat for a bowl game."