Zakhari Franklin, UTSA’s all-time receiving leader, commits to Ole Omit for closing season

A few of the cease remaining gamers within the transfer portal is headed to the SEC.

Zakhari Franklin, the all-time leading receiver in UTSA history, announced Saturday that he’s going to play his closing season at Ole Omit. Franklin emerged as one of essentially the most keen receivers within the country over his final two seasons with the Roadrunners.

In 2022, Franklin caught 93 passes for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns. Franklin’s 93 receptions were seventh-most in all of FBS. His 15 touchdowns tied for 2d within the nation. That got here on the heels of Franklin’s 2021 season when he compiled 81 receptions for 1,027 yards and 12 rankings.

Over his four seasons at UTSA, Franklin totaled 262 catches for 3,348 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Franklin set apart his title into the portal on April 28, correct a pair of days sooner than the closing date for undergraduate gamers to transfer and be eligible for the 2023 season. A limited bit extra than a month later, Franklin has stumbled on a peculiar home in Oxford.

It’s been one other transfer-heavy offseason for Lane Kiffin’s program. To boot to Franklin, the Rebels added quarterbacks Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma Deliver) and Walker Howard (LSU), huge receiver Tre Harris (Louisiana Tech) and tight cease Caden Prieskorn (Memphis) on offense, as effectively as a slew of most traditional faces on defense.

Particularly at receiver, Franklin and Harris are anticipated to get nice roles following the departures of Jonathan Mingo and Malik Heath to the NFL. Ole Omit beforehand landed a dedication from Texas A&M transfer Chris Marshall, but he used to be pushed besides the workforce final month. Ole Omit additionally had a dedication from ex-Jackson Deliver receiver Shane Hooks, but he backed off that pledge and switched his dedication to Auburn on Would possibly perchance perchance perchance additionally 21.

Ole Omit is coming off an 8-5 story in 2022. The Rebels started the year 7-0 sooner than shedding five of their closing six, including the Egg Bowl to rival Mississippi Deliver and the Texas Bowl to Texas Tech.

Kiffin has a 23-13 overall story with a 14-11 label in SEC play all the draw thru his three seasons with this system. Abet in November, Kiffin used to be closely pursued by Auburn but he determined to dwell with the Rebels.