One of the college nation’s leading pass-catching talents is officially no longer on the open market after former UTSA wide receiver Zakhari Franklin announced his commitment to the Ole Miss Rebels.
Zakhari Franklin Transfers to Ole Miss
After setting program records for the Roadrunners, Franklin was expected to be at the forefront of the UTSA offense this fall. His entry into the college football transfer portal sent shockwaves around the college football world, and now he’s set to make waves for the Rebels after announcing that he’ll transfer to Ole Miss for the 2023 college football season.
Having played four successive seasons for UTSA, Franklin will only have one year of remaining eligibility for Ole Miss. However, one year of the former Roadrunner is likely to be better than multiple years of most other options available at wide receiver via the portal at this late stage in the spring.
Franklin has established himself as one of the top receivers in college football despite his somewhat humble beginnings. Viewed as only a two-star recruit in the 2019 class despite earning first-team all-district honors as a senior at Cedar Hill High School, he held nine offers that included no Power Five opportunities.
MORE: AAC WR Rankings 2023
The former UTSA wide receiver quickly established himself as a true freshman, sharing the team lead in receptions. School records began to tumble in his sophomore campaign as Franklin broke the program record for 100+ yard games in a season. His four triple-digit games helped fuel 694 receiving yards while adding seven touchdowns to his résumé.
Over the past two seasons, Franklin has been a near-unstoppable force for one of college football’s ascending programs. The impact-making pass catcher has crossed 1,000 yards, snagged double-digit touchdowns, and averaged over 12 yards per catch in consecutive seasons, becoming the most productive wide receiver in UTSA history.
At 6’1″ and 185 pounds, Franklin has the size to win on the perimeter for the Rebels, but is weaponized by speed, impressive route-running savvy, and the ability to separate with ease at any level of the field. Gaudy production doesn’t necessarily make an elite player, but Franklin brings a top-tier skill set to Ole Miss following his transfer.
Franklin Quick Facts
- Class: Super Senior
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 185
- Hometown: Cedar Hill, TX
- Career receptions: 262
- Career receiving yards: 3,348
- Career average yards per catch: 12.8
- Career receiving touchdowns: 37
