 Julius Franks , Jr . ( September 5 , 1922 – November 26 , 2008 ) was a civil rights leader and an All @-@ American guard who played football at the University of Michigan from 1941 to 1942 . Franks wore # 62 as a varsity letterman in 1941 and # 63 in 1942 . Franks was the first ( or second depending on the source ) African-American to play varsity football at Michigan . He was also the first African-American to play varsity basketball at Michigan . Franks was the first African-American to play varsity football at the University of Michigan . Franks was a member of the 1941 and 