Should Ole Miss Target UTSA's Zakhari Franklin As New No. 1 Receiver?

With Keon Coleman headed to Florida State, the Rebels should target a former Roadrunner.

Keon Coleman is headed to Tallahassee instead of Oxford. For the first time, the Transfer Portal King lost to the Portal Prince. 

Embrace it. Soak it in. Move on with your day, Rebels fans. There's no point wondering what could have been with what is. 

Coleman, a 6-4 highlight reel that elected to leave Michigan State, now joins Mike Norvell's Seminoles in an ACC that looks more open than a 24-hour quick stop found off the highway. His addition provides 2022 breakout quarterback Jordan Travis with another sizeable weapon to win on the boundary. 

While Coleman garnered most of the attention, he's not the only big-play receiver left in the portal. And while some consider his departure for the Rebels a loss, when one door closes, another one opens. 

What's behind door No. 2? How about former UTSA star Zakhari Franklin, a 6-1 pass-catcher with similar skills to Coleman and all the upside to fortify a passing game? 

Franklin, the Roadrunners' all-time leader in receiving yards, elected to enter the transfer portal following spring practice. He's a two-time 1,000-yard receiver that's totaled 27 TDs since 2021. While UTSA still remains in the running for his services, so do several other high-profile programs. 

Is Ole Miss one of them? With Coleman headed to Florida State, it's hard to imagine otherwise. 

Per reports, Colorado seems to be the front-runner to land Franklin's services. First-year head coach Deion Sanders needs playmakers—proven ones, for that matter. With the recent departures of prospects like Jordyn Tyson and Montana Lemonious-Craig, Franklin would almost certainly take over as the new top target for former Jackson State QB Shedur Sanders. 

Florida State was listed as one program to monitor, but Coleman's addition likely takes them out of the running. This should open the door for Ole Miss to make a pitch in acquiring the All-Confernce USA player's services. 

The receiver was considered a position of strength following the commitment of former Texas A&M receiver Chris Marshall, but things have changed since the end of spring practice. Marshall, a former five-star recruit from Houston (Texas), was dismissed from the program due to a violation of team rules. 

“Chris Marshall has been dismissed from the Ole Miss football program for violation of team rules," Kiffin said in a statement. "We wish him good luck in his future plans.” 

While Franklin will only have one year of eligibility remaining, that could be enough to keep the Rebels in the driver's seat for SEC dominance. Ole Miss must replace the production of its two leading receivers in Malik Heath and Jonathan Mingo, as both are off to the NFL. 

Dayton Wade and Jordan Watkins are projected to build off productive 2022 seasons. Ole Miss also added Louisiana Tech receiver Tre Harris, but could still need another top-tier target. Coleman was the prize jewel, but Franklin was more than just a consolation prize. He's a consistent route-runner that will win at all three phases of the field. 

For his career, Franklin averaged 13 yards per catch. That would have ranked third among Ole Miss receivers behind Mingo, a second-round pick to the Carolina Panthers, and Heath, an undrafted free agent that signed with Green Bay Packers. 

Coleman could be the missing link in Florida State's passing game. Franklin could provide the same value for the Rebels. And while Kiffin might have had his sights set on Coleman's upside, Franklin's potential in the passing game is well worth a roster spot. 

The question is, would Franklin want to come to The Grove? 

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