Lane Kiffin Provides Update On Rebels WR Zakhari Franklin

Zakhari Franklin's status for Week 1's matchup against Mercer remains a mystery.

Lane Kiffin doesn't sit idle after missing out on talent in the transfer portal but instead pivots to be the next big-time name.

That was evident after Ole Miss struck out on landing former Michigan State star receiver Keon Coleman, who eventually pledged his commitment to Florida State. Kiffin returned to work to find a secondary weapon to replace Malik Heath, landing UTSA pass-catcher Zakhari Franklin within the week.

Franklin, a former All-Conference USA member with the Roadrunners, should provide whichever quarterback wins the starting job consistency on the outside opposite Louisiana Tech transfer Tre Harris. That is, whenever he's cleared for physical contact.

Throughout fall camp, Franklin has been seen wearing either a non-contact green or black jersey after undergoing a knee scope this summer. Kiffin did not offer an exact timetable as to when the senior would be active for contact entering Saturday's season opener against Mercer at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

“He’s not out there practicing yet, unfortunately, so it’s hard for me to answer what he looks like when he’s out there," Kiffin said Monday. "Obviously, we know what he’s looked like before. [He] had a couple [of] thousand-yard seasons there, big-time playmaker, but we don’t know that yet."

Part of Frankilin's intrigue in the transfer portal came from his consistency. The 6-1, 189-pound receiver served as Jeff Traylor's go-to weapon for quarterback Frank Harris in a balanced offense led by coordinator Will Stein.

Franklin posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2021 and 2022, and totaled double-digit touchdowns each season. Last year while helping UTSA claim its second conference title, Franklin posted career highs in receptions (94), receiving yards (1,136), and touchdowns (15).

The absence of Franklin will be missed if he's unable to suit up Saturday against the Bears, but Kiffin is confident in the team's depth. Harris, who totaled 935 receiving yards and 10 scores last season with the Bulldogs, has flourished since arriving in Oxford and should replace Jonathan Mingo as the team's top target on the perimeter.

The Rebels return Dayton Wade, Jalen Knox and Braleon Brown at receiver. They also retained former USC tight end Michael Trigg while adding former Memphis standout Caden Prieskorn.

Last season, Wade and Trigg finished with 67 combined receptions for 465 yards and 6 TDs. Prieskorn, a 6-6 red-zone threat, led the Tigers in receiving yards (602) and was tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (seven).

"I think that we do have probably better backups than we’ve had, ever," said Kiffin. "Again, this is not an individual sport and a lot of it is how you play together and how you come together, so that’s still to be seen.”

Kickoff against the Bears is scheduled for 1 p.m. 

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