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Where Are They Now – Frantz Joseph
12/23/2019 9:19:00 AM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Frantz Joseph thought his wait was over.
After redshirting at Boston College in 2004, the linebacker envisioned himself returning to – and dominating – game action in '05. Joseph honed his football IQ and was bigger, stronger and faster than ever.
But his mother was ailing and needed support back in South Florida. So, he transferred to Florida Atlantic University to provide it – knowing that NCAA transfer rules required him to sit out another
season.
"That's my morals and values and how I grew up," said Joseph, a former Fort Lauderdale High School standout. "You always honor and value your family, and you have always got to do what you have to do to make sure they're good. So, even though you have to sacrifice something in your life to make sure they're in a better position to succeed as well...sometimes you have got to make those big decisions."
Joseph practiced with the team, but that didn't satisfy him like games did. There weren't any bright lights, no fans cheering or band playing in the background. He amassed "a lot of built up energy" and couldn't wait to release it.
He did exactly that upon his 2006 return – and began etching his name into the record books in the process.
After notching 61 tackles that year, Joseph led FAU to a bowl win and its first Sun Belt Conference Championship the next. He tallied 131 and 154 tackles, respectively, over the 2007 and 2008 seasons; the '08 total set a program high and was the second-most nationally.
Joseph figured that production made him a lock for the 2009 NFL Draft – his agent told him as much. But his name wasn't called on Day 1 or Day 2. And after the Kansas City Chiefs selected kicker Ryan Succop with the 256th pick, reality hit: Joseph went undrafted.
The Oakland Raiders signed Joseph right after the draft but released him three months later. Joseph then spent brief stints with the Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots.
Joseph sought a long-term NFL contract, and his agent told him the best way to get one was through the Canadian Football League, where he'd be an immediate contributor.
Heeding his agent's advice, Joseph signed with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos in September 2009. He quickly stood out there and NFL teams took interest; Joseph said a few called and wanted to discuss a contract.
Joseph was thrilled about the potential of returning to the NFL. The only problem: a stipulation in his CFL contract restricted him from doing so – something his agent didn't mention. So, begrudgingly, Joseph declined all NFL offers that came his way.
After spending the 2009 season in Canada, Joseph signed with the Hartford Colonials of the now-defunct United Football League in '10.
In the UFL, Joseph could showcase his skills in cities much closer to NFL scouts – at least that's what his agent told him. Once again, the agent steered Joseph wrong. Like his CFL contract, Joseph's agreement with the Colonials blocked him from returning to the NFL.
Joseph was "angry" and tired of being misled by his representation. So, he took business matters into his own hands by starting Professional Tax Returns, LLC, a tax preparation service, in his college town of Boca Raton.
In the business' early days, Joseph handled everything from accounting to public relations. It was a lot of work, but he enjoyed it – Joseph's experience relying on others taught him to. His FAU education made it easier.
"When you're starting at a small company, you kind of have to be practical and kind of handle most of it yourself," said Joseph, who played for a couple of indoor teams before retiring from football in 2012. "So, having that experience from college, that really helped me transition that energy into owning my own business and kind of going from there."
That wouldn't be Joseph's only business. In 2018, he created the nonprofit Mastermind Athletes, an organization dedicated to providing STEM - science, technology, engineering and mathematics – and sports opportunities to South Florida youth.
Joseph also mentors at his alma mater, FAU. He builds "big brother-little brother" relationships with some of the Owls players, encouraging them to reach out if they need advice.
"Sometimes they just want you to tell them that you love them," Joseph said of his mentees. "And sometimes they want you to tell them that they can be something great."
Seeking another way to help kids in his community, Joseph began coaching football three years ago. He started in the youth ranks but became Dillard High School's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach last year. The early results are promising: his team went 12-1 and his defense held five teams scoreless.
To Joseph, though, on-field results are secondary to the bigger picture: providing the youth opportunities to succeed. And he's enjoying his role in doing that.
"Being able to make them smile and feel better, to me that's the ultimate satisfaction," Joseph said. "Because when that happens, to me, that brings life into a person. And once you bring life to a person, just like you bring life to a plant, now that person and that plant can sprout, and they can grow."
After redshirting at Boston College in 2004, the linebacker envisioned himself returning to – and dominating – game action in '05. Joseph honed his football IQ and was bigger, stronger and faster than ever.
But his mother was ailing and needed support back in South Florida. So, he transferred to Florida Atlantic University to provide it – knowing that NCAA transfer rules required him to sit out another
season."That's my morals and values and how I grew up," said Joseph, a former Fort Lauderdale High School standout. "You always honor and value your family, and you have always got to do what you have to do to make sure they're good. So, even though you have to sacrifice something in your life to make sure they're in a better position to succeed as well...sometimes you have got to make those big decisions."
Joseph practiced with the team, but that didn't satisfy him like games did. There weren't any bright lights, no fans cheering or band playing in the background. He amassed "a lot of built up energy" and couldn't wait to release it.
He did exactly that upon his 2006 return – and began etching his name into the record books in the process.
After notching 61 tackles that year, Joseph led FAU to a bowl win and its first Sun Belt Conference Championship the next. He tallied 131 and 154 tackles, respectively, over the 2007 and 2008 seasons; the '08 total set a program high and was the second-most nationally.
Joseph figured that production made him a lock for the 2009 NFL Draft – his agent told him as much. But his name wasn't called on Day 1 or Day 2. And after the Kansas City Chiefs selected kicker Ryan Succop with the 256th pick, reality hit: Joseph went undrafted.
The Oakland Raiders signed Joseph right after the draft but released him three months later. Joseph then spent brief stints with the Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots.
Joseph sought a long-term NFL contract, and his agent told him the best way to get one was through the Canadian Football League, where he'd be an immediate contributor.
Heeding his agent's advice, Joseph signed with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos in September 2009. He quickly stood out there and NFL teams took interest; Joseph said a few called and wanted to discuss a contract.
Joseph was thrilled about the potential of returning to the NFL. The only problem: a stipulation in his CFL contract restricted him from doing so – something his agent didn't mention. So, begrudgingly, Joseph declined all NFL offers that came his way.
After spending the 2009 season in Canada, Joseph signed with the Hartford Colonials of the now-defunct United Football League in '10.
In the UFL, Joseph could showcase his skills in cities much closer to NFL scouts – at least that's what his agent told him. Once again, the agent steered Joseph wrong. Like his CFL contract, Joseph's agreement with the Colonials blocked him from returning to the NFL.
Joseph was "angry" and tired of being misled by his representation. So, he took business matters into his own hands by starting Professional Tax Returns, LLC, a tax preparation service, in his college town of Boca Raton.
In the business' early days, Joseph handled everything from accounting to public relations. It was a lot of work, but he enjoyed it – Joseph's experience relying on others taught him to. His FAU education made it easier.
"When you're starting at a small company, you kind of have to be practical and kind of handle most of it yourself," said Joseph, who played for a couple of indoor teams before retiring from football in 2012. "So, having that experience from college, that really helped me transition that energy into owning my own business and kind of going from there."
That wouldn't be Joseph's only business. In 2018, he created the nonprofit Mastermind Athletes, an organization dedicated to providing STEM - science, technology, engineering and mathematics – and sports opportunities to South Florida youth.
Joseph also mentors at his alma mater, FAU. He builds "big brother-little brother" relationships with some of the Owls players, encouraging them to reach out if they need advice.
"Sometimes they just want you to tell them that you love them," Joseph said of his mentees. "And sometimes they want you to tell them that they can be something great."
Seeking another way to help kids in his community, Joseph began coaching football three years ago. He started in the youth ranks but became Dillard High School's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach last year. The early results are promising: his team went 12-1 and his defense held five teams scoreless.
To Joseph, though, on-field results are secondary to the bigger picture: providing the youth opportunities to succeed. And he's enjoying his role in doing that.
"Being able to make them smile and feel better, to me that's the ultimate satisfaction," Joseph said. "Because when that happens, to me, that brings life into a person. And once you bring life to a person, just like you bring life to a plant, now that person and that plant can sprout, and they can grow."
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