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Freeze warning, indeed: Franklin is a Rebel, handing Auburn beat its Cam Akers moment

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett08/21/23SpiritBen
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EDGE Kamarion Franklin is the top-ranked recruit in Mississippi for 2024

In this edition of #notcommitted, Zach Berry and Ben Garrett of the Ole Miss Spirit/On3 go into more detail on Rebel football landing Kamarion Franklin over the weekend. Franklin is ranked as a Top 30 recruit in the country by all but one of the four major recruiting services. 

Franklin chose the Rebels over Auburn and others — more specifically the Hurricanes of Miami (Fla.) But it was the Tigers that seemingly took the recruiting loss the hardest. That is, if the Auburn online community is any indication.

But the same sources Auburn recruiting reporters are relying on in 2023 are, for the most part, the exact same sources which — while at Ole Miss in 2016 — were just as confident, if not more so, that Cam Akers was committing to the Rebels.

Plus, thoughts on the Grove Collective’s Day of Giving held on Monday, the Rebels’ viability in the recruitment of four-star in-state wide receiver Braylon Burnside, the upcoming commitment announcements of four-star quarterback Trever Jackson and four-star wide receiver Noreel White and much, much more. 

It’s looking like another big weekend for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.

Rapid Reaction: How Ole Miss ultimately landed Kamarion Franklin, Mississippi’s top recruit

Here’s a brief excerpt from the extended conversation.

BEN: Ole Miss (in landing Franklin) is proving again it’s punching above its weight in the NIL space. For their resources compared to their competitors and by how organized they are, they’re doing great.

ZACH: As we’re recording this, they’re close to half a million (raised) already (during Monday’s day of giving). 

BEN: So, if the money is even and no longer an issue, then the recruitment defaults back to where (Franklin) felt the most comfortable. He’s very close to his mother and grandmother. At Ole Miss, they’re right down the road. 

I think he’s going to sign in November. Again, Auburn people, all those Ole Miss coaches and sources you’re talking to that are feeling so confident are the same ones we were talking to in 2016 when Cam Akers was coming to Ole Miss. I know what (first-year Auburn head coach Hugh) Freeze is telling some of y’all, man. I like Freeze. I have no problem with him. But he’s not the most accurate source on (recruiting information). 

He also thought he was getting Mique Juarez.

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