Ole Miss lands star UTSA transfer wide receiver Zakhari Franklin
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and staff continue their quest to build a roster that will withstand the rigors of the Southeastern Conference, and on Saturday they received a commitment from highly-coveted UTSA transfer wide receiver Zakhari Franklin — the highest-rated player remaining in the portal.
Franklin, a Cedar Hill, Texas, native is listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. Cedar Hill is the same school that produced Rebel great DaMarkus Lodge.
Franklin announced his commitment on Twitter Saturday.
I Reached Every Goal Had To Write Another List! #HottyToddy 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/wz8WJ55lxg
— 💤 (@ZakhariFranklin) June 3, 2023
Coach Kiffin continues to cement his status as ‘portal king’ as many of the nation’s best are choosing to head to Oxford. Franklin is the UTSA record holder for the most single-game, single-season and career receptions.
The speedy receiver also owns the highest single-season and career receiving yardage marks, as well as the most single-season and career touchdown catches in school history.
With the departure recently of A&M transfer Chris Marshall, the Rebels have been searching for another talented wide receiver, and they’ve certainly found that in Zakhari.
He is one of the most explosive wide receivers in the country, producing back-to-back 1000-yard seasons at UTSA, the first time that had been done by a Roadrunner wide receiver in school history.
𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐀𝐋𝐋-𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄
UTSA led the league with 6️⃣ first-team All-Conference USA selections this year.#210TriangleOfToughness #LetsGo210 | #BirdsUp 🤙 pic.twitter.com/8kwyfFuiD0
— UTSA Football 🏈 (@UTSAFTBL) December 6, 2022
TD Blocks and Speed with ball in hand! #Zone6🚨@joshua_cephus @ZakhariFranklin https://t.co/f33bh4P3rA
— Joe Price III (@CoachJP3) December 3, 2022
The former Honorable Mention All-American was nothing short of prolific for UTSA, finishing with 262 catches for 3,348 yards and 37 touchdowns in his four seasons in San Antonio. He finished the 2022 season with 94 receptions for 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Record breaking catch 💥
Zakhari Franklin now holds the record for most touchdown catches in a C-USA Championship game with 3!
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) December 3, 2022
His production could quickly be a force for the Rebel receiving corps and will be quite the addition to the offensive arsenal heading into fall camp
Alexa…
Play “Break’em Off” by @paulwallbabySheesh… @ZakhariFranklin https://t.co/ZVmWMo4yJe
— Joe Price III (@CoachJP3) November 19, 2022
Welcome to the ‘Sip, Zakhari!
Stay tuned to The Rebel Walk for the latest recruiting updates.
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Lee Ann is the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She is a veteran SEC sports journalist and NFL content writer. She is also the Sr. Editor for MESPORTS digital. Herring-Olvedo is a Brown University graduate who loves good cigars, good games, and a smooth glass of bourbon — not necessarily in that order.
