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Ole Miss Football: Rebels add top WR transfer Zakhari Franklin

By Harley Hudson

Dec 2, 2022; San Antonio, Texas, USA; UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Zakhari Franklin (4) runs for a touchdown in the second half against the North Texas Mean Green at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2022; San Antonio, Texas, USA; UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Zakhari Franklin (4) runs for a touchdown in the second half against the North Texas Mean Green at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ole Miss football has added another player from the transfer portal this past week, their 20th of the offseason thus far. Wide receiver Zakhari Franklin has announced his intent to play for the Rebels transferring in from the University of Texas-San Antonio

Over the last few seasons, head coach Lane Kiffin has become notorious for adding players to the Ole Miss roster through the NCAA transfer portal. The Rebels have continued to add transfers since the 2022-23 seasons end beginning in November and have now amassed over 20 total players through the portal.

The latest addition may be the most talented yet in wide receiver Zakhari Franklin. Franklin has played the last three seasons at UTSA where he became the leading receiver for the Road Runners in that time.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound pass catcher may step in and be the Rebels’ top target right away in Oxford, for whoever wins the quarterback job this fall.

Last season at UTSA Franklin was named First-Team All-Conference USA and set UTSA single-season records for multiple categories including receptions, single-season receiving yards, receiving yards per game, and touchdowns in a season. He posted 94 catches,1,136 receiving yards, 81.1 receiving yards per game, and 15 touchdowns.

Franklin had four games with over 100 yards receiving and three more where he had over 90. During his time there, he became the career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches for the Road Runners.

Zakhari Franklin was the top remaining prospect available in the transfer portal according to 247 Sports when he announced his intent to join the Ole Miss football program. He held a grade of 91, which would make him the 108th player nationally and 22nd best wide receiver in the portal overall.

He is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons and in his three years with UTSA he racked up 3,348 yards and 37 touchdowns. The Rebels desperately needed a top receiving threat following the departure of Jonathan Mingo and Malik Heath, and Franklin may step right in to fill that role.

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