By Adding Zakhari Franklin, Rebels Keep SEC Contention Hopes Alive

With Zakhari Franklin joining the mix, Ole Miss finds itself at the forefront of "dark horse" conversations.

Two years ago, Ole Miss Rebels football made history with its first 10-win regular season. Oxford was rocking, Lane Kiffin was rolling and the potential of Rebels football reached its peaked.

Funny how quickly one productive year is lost in translation, especially in a conference like the SEC. Ole Miss finished 8-5 last season with a first-year quarterback, first-year offensive coordinator and a plethora of new pieces added from the transfer portal.

In a rigorous SEC West division — where projected last-place Mississippi State is still expected to finish with seven wins — everyone is a dark horse to head to Atlanta. Anything to get the fans talking during downtime could be what sets the tone for the regular season.

Zakhari Franklin isn't much of a vocalist. He lets his footwork and smooth hands in coverage speak volumes. It'll soon be amplified in the SEC as the newest Rebel to step foot on The Grove.

Welcome back to the chatterbox, Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss. Enter the pinnacle of "dark horse contender" conversations among SEC pundits for the next few weeks.

Franklin, a two-time first-team All-Conference USA selection from UTSA, heads two states over from San Antonio to Oxford for a chance to elevate the Rebels' passing game. He's the Roadrunners' all-time receiving yards leader and is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.

Everything is falling in line for Ole Miss to return to its 2021 persona. Jaxson Dart will have a full year working in Kiffin's offense under the direction of coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. The ground game should only continue to be a factor with the return of SEC Freshman of the Year Quinshon Judkins.

Dart, a transfer from USC, benefitted from the veteran play style of receivers Jonathan Mingo and Malik Heath, both of whom are now in the NFL. He'll prosper again not just with Franklin, but also with former Louisiana Tech star Tre Harris standing on the opposing side.

Consider it a victory for all parties. Dart — or any quarterback for that matter — will have the experience to work with in the passing game. Harris, a fellow All-Conference USA receiver, will get to strut his stuff on the big stage in front of nearly every major scout. As for Franklin, scouts already raved about his potential as a Roadrunner but linked him to potentially a mid-round pick.

Can you smell the Day 1 buzz with a breakout season in the SEC?

Kiffin has the formula figured out when it comes to building a program; lay down the groundwork, build up the young talent, add proven experience, and prosper. Last season, the Rebels were hyper-aggressive in the transfer portal.

New year, same result. 

Contending on the recruiting trail with programs like Alabama and Georgia is tiresome. Staying in the driver's lane with proven talent is Kiffin's Mo and it's working around the clock.

Franklin is the latest weapon to join the rocking Rebels' passing game. While he doesn't win with size, the 6-1 receiver plays bigger than his frame suggests. He's a contested catch machine that excels when facing man coverage. Last season at UTSA, Franklin finished with 16 contested grabs, the eighth-most among FBS receivers.

Harris offers a bit more size, standing 6-2 and weighing over 210 pounds. He's more physical in man coverage, and while his route-running could use a touch-up, the former Bulldogs has a mean streak going for the football. Like Franklin, Harris finished with 16 contested catches in 2022.

Combined, the two new receivers finished with over 160 catches for 2,072 yards and 25 TDs. Finding the end zone on the regular is impressive, but it's not the most significant snap. Of the over 1,100 combined snaps, Franklin and Harris totaled two drops.

Ole Miss isn't retooling but instead replacing the lost talent that departed for the pros. Mingo, who went 39th overall to the Carolina Panthers, played over 500 reps on the outside, per Pro Football Focus. Harris played nearly 600 snaps out wide in Ruston. Heath played over 94 percent on the boundary last year. Franklin lined up in the same spot on roughly 86 percent of reps.

Dart, Spencer Sanders, or Walker Howard now have two pass-catchers that are plug-and-play options in the passing game for Kiffin's offense. A healthy Michael Trigg at tight end should serve as a security blanket on third down. In a two-tight end formation, newly added Memphis transfer Caden Prieskorn has everything one looks for in short-yardage situations.

A player across the middle, one short and one deep? Is there anything the Rebels are missing entering summer workouts?

Ole Miss' offense is predicated on an explosive run game. That should be in the works with the return of Judkins. The run opens up the passing game downfield as defensive coordinators will crowd the box to force Kiffin's hand.

Even forced balls downfield this year have a chance of being caught with Franklin in the fold.

Everything for those outside of Tuscaloosa and Athens is about playing catchup. Adding one player won't entirely change the outcome of a season, but it could make one person's job that much easier.

Bringing in Harris was a starting point. Franklin's arrival is the final piece. Insert a quarterback and they'll benefit from the duo's addition.

Dark horse contender in the SEC West? Only those outside of Oxford are buying that notion now. 

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