Through five weeks, the Indianapolis Colts defense has played with a renewed sense of energy and purpose -- playing physical and relentless football at every level.
At the center of it all is Zaire Franklin, the veteran linebacker whose leadership and consistency have quietly become the heartbeat of the unit.
Franklin isn’t a headline name across the national landscape, but inside league circles, his reputation is thought of in the highest regard.
He’s the kind of player who does everything right: communicates pre-snap, plays with outstanding effort, and brings a level of physicality that sets the tone for the entire defense.