Photo: From left, Lake Cormorant football signings Hunter Howard and Rodderias Bland (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC), Kamarion Franklin (Ole Miss), and Wylie Riley (Ole Miss-Preferred Walk-On) sign their letters of intent on Wednesday, Dec. 20. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
A much-anticipated day for the Ole Miss football team happened Wednesday, Dec. 20, the first day of the early National Signing Day for college football programs. Kamarion Franklin of Lake Cormorant, the top football prospect in Mississippi and ranked just below the top 50 in the country, signed with coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.
National Signing Day has not become the major event in college football in recent years, but some top prospects used Wednesday as their day to officially commit to the next level. Franklin was among the top “gets” for the Rebels on this day of signing National Letters of Intent.
Franklin said he’s already been working on learning the Ole Miss defense’s schemes.
“I’ve been going over defensive schemes and how I fit into the defense,” Franklin said. “I’ve been talking it over with coach (Pete) Golding about how I can separate myself and get on the field.”
Franklin said with the additions put together by the Rebels, the team should be considered an “elite team” next season.
“We’re loaded, even at my position at defensive line,” Franklin said. “I’ve got confidence we can win it all.”
The Lake Cormorant senior shared the stage with three teammates on Wednesday, as Wylie Riley signed a preferred walk-on agreement with Ole Miss, and linemen Hunter Howard and Rodderias Bland inked offers from East Mississippi Community College.
“I’ve been playing ball with these guys since Pop Warner and Little League,” Franklin said. “It’s good that we got to live out our dreams. We’re all going on different journeys but we’re all chasing the same thing.”
Franklin wasn’t the only DeSoto County player to sign on Wednesday, the first day of the three-day early period. John Randle Jr. of Horn Lake will be playing Big Ten Conference football at Purdue and he signed with the Boilermakers on Wednesday.
From the Sip to the Old Gold and Black, welcome to Purdue @John_Randle34!
