Kamarion Franklin chooses Ole Miss over Auburn, Miami of Florida
Photo: Kamarion Franklin of Lake Cormorant poses for a photo after announcing his commitment to play football at Ole Miss next season. (Bob Bakken/sportsmississippi.com)
Kamarion Franklin of Lake Cormorant, ranked as the state’s number one ranked high school football player and among the top ten defensive linemen in the country, on Saturday, Aug. 19 announced he has committed to play next season at Ole Miss.
The 6-foot-5, 265 pound senior defensive end for the Gators chose the Rebels over Tennessee, Miami of Florida, Auburn, Florida State, and others.
Franklin, who has been wooed by close to 40 different schools over the past three seasons, last year set a school record with 19 sacks, collecting 93 tackles, including 22 tackles for loss. He has 150 career tackles, including 99 solo tackles and 29 sacks.
National Signing Day is Dec. 20, when Franklin can make his commitment official.
“It’s good because it’s big to stay home, put out for my state and put my state on notice that you don’t have to leave the state to be great,” Franklin said Saturday after making his announcement. “It was a very tight decision. It was very stressful.”
Nick Nester, Lake Cormorant football coach and athletic director, credited Franklin for handling all of the pressure and stress in making his decision.
“He has done a great job of taking all of this information in over the past three years, and to be honest, it was very difficult,” Nester said. “But I knew when he walked in the door today, that was the first time he knew for sure where he was going to go.”
In addition to being a Mississippi player playing for a Mississippi school, Franklin said it was important for him and his family to be close to home.
“It means a lot, it’s really important, because it wouldn’t be a hassle for my family to come see me play and if anything would go wrong I can come home,” Franklin said. “It’s an hour away so it’s good that all of my family is here.”
Nester said Franklin wanted the choice to be made ahead of the regular season starting so he can concentrate on his senior season and his graduation in December.
“For us, it’s big because it allows him to focus on what he wants to focus on and that’s helping the team be the best that we can be,” Nester said. “I know he’s happy and excited to take a break from the stress and focus on his last three months of school.”
Franklin said Auburn was his second choice, along with Miami of Florida. That was reflected in his revealing an Auburn shirt first, then taking that shirt off to reveal Ole MIss as his college choice.
