An investigation into On3’s outlier (read: too low) ranking of prized Ole Miss commit Kam Franklin
Kamarion Franklin is ranked as a Top 30 recruit by all but one of the four major recruiting services.
On3 is that one. And it’s standing all alone, its ranking(s) of Franklin as egregious … err … outlier-ish as any ranking(s) can be.
“I don’t really like On3 right now,” Franklin told this reporter, when approached on the eve of his Ole Miss commitment two weeks ago. Franklin is one of three four-star recruits landed by the Rebels over a recent seven-day span.
Ole Miss now has the nation’s No. 21 recruiting class.
But back to Franklin. Who could blame him?
On3 has Franklin as the No. 223 prospect in the country, as well as the No. 21 defensive lineman and the No. 3 player in Mississippi. Consider this: Franklin is in the single digits in every single one of those categories on 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals.
Actually, the On3 Industry Ranking — the aggregate rating/ranking/whatever of the four services — has him as the nation’s No. 39 recruit, No. 7 defensive lineman and No. 1 player in Mississippi.
Kamarion Franklin, the No. 1 recruit in Mississippi, puts on an Ole Miss hat as he announces his commitment to Ole Miss football while wearing a shirt that says “‘Sip Made Kam Stayed” with the Ole Miss logo at Lake Cormorant High School in Lake Cormorant, Miss, on Saturday, August 19, 2023.
So, uh, what gives?
I mean, Franklin last season broke Lake Cormorant’s single-season record for sacks (19). He had 93 tackles, returned a fumble for a touchdown and blocked three kicks.
Even more, his head coach, Nick Nester, recently described Franklin as a “a great kid to coach” and potential “strong-side field end” with basketball traits and athleticism. Franklin is an anticipated December graduate and Honor Roll student.
“He can cross the three-point line in three steps and raise up and tomahawk (the ball) all the way down,” Nester said. “Explosive, versatile player, who, because of basketball, has had limited access to the weight room. He’s very impressive as far as physically.
“Of course, he has a lot to get better. But I think he’s going to give Ole Miss the versatility they want, whether they want to put him inside or outside. Depending on what (first-year Ole Miss defensive coordinator and linebackers) coach (Pete) Golding wants to do, he can do it.
“His length and his explosiveness and being able to turn that into power is what’s so attractive to (Ole Miss) as football player.”
The Ole Miss Spirit recently reached out to On3 scouting and rankings assistant Cody Bellaire to find out. Here’s what he had to say.
KAM FRANKLIN’S OUTLIER ON3 RANKING: AN INVESTIGATION
CODY BELLAIRE: Before you pop tape on, the first thing we do is look at body type. We had him, last verified, at 6-5, 265. He’s got like a 77 1/2 wingspan, a 6-5 wing, which is average length at the position. A lot of guys usually have four inches in either direction. Pretty good to above average wingspan would be two to three inches longer than your height. He’s run-of-the-mill from a wing perspective and a length perspective.
He checks the box as a versatile defensive line weapon. At that size, with his frame, he can add weight to kick inside to a three-technique. If they wanted to have him sit closer to 275, maybe he could play a five-technique or a strong-side end or a 4i — which is essentially the end in a three-down front.
But if he maintains his weight and they keep him as an EDGE, he can stand up or play with his hand in the dirt and can be used as a primary pass-rusher from the weak side. His size allows him to be used all sorts of ways. It’s going to be all on Ole Miss and Pete Golding and how he feels he’s best utilized for that defense.
However, to me, the biggest hurdle he has to get over, and it’s probably why he’s rated lower for us than a lot of the other services, is the hip and ankle stiffness.
That’s the thing that comes up on film consistently — and especially when you watch the game tape. When he’s in the open field and has to change direction and is forced to redirect, he gets stuck in the mud. It’s like getting out of a crowded parking lot with an F-150 compared to a Prius; it’s going to take some more effort and it’s going to be tight.
That’s the ankle stiffness.
The hip stiffness is apparent when we talk about pad level at the point of attack and bending the corner. If he were to project as an EDGE rusher, the hip stiffness isn’t as big of an issue when it comes to him, especially if the majority of his work isn’t coming off the weak side as a stand-up rusher. But when he turns the corners and his hips lock up and he isn’t able to turn the corner as effectively as you would like, that limits his skill-set as a pass-rusher.
I believe the majority of his work is going to be as an inside guy. He’s going to be more of a five-technique. He’s going to do a lot of his work as a strong-side end. Or they beef him up and play him as a three-technique.
I’m curious what they do.
But when you’re at the point of attack and you’re 6-5 like he is, it’s about getting underneath blockers. When you’re 6-5, you have to be able to gain leverage by either shooting your hands first and winning with length (which, as we’ve touched on, isn’t great for someone his size), or you have to be able to get low and win the leverage game. He doesn’t have great length. So, at the next level, especially if he’s playing that three-tech or 4i or five-tech or whatever you want to call it, where he’s going to be asked to set the EDGE or hold the point? He’s going to have to get low and get underneath blockers. ‘Cause with his hip stiffness, that’s going to be a challenge.
With all that being said, is he too low for us right now?
Probably. He’s in the 220 range. I fixated on the areas he can improve. The things he does have is violence and burst off the ball. He’s got good hand usage and plays with a good motor. He’s extremely productive at the high-school level. The numbers are ridiculous. He’s extremely productive.
The stiffness is the thing that holds me back, especially as he potentially adds weight. I’m not sure he’s ever going to be a Top 50, Top 75 pick for us. But is he maybe closer to a day-two guy than a day-three guy like we have him currently? Perhaps.
I still think, for us, the sweet spot that he can land when all is said and done is probably in that 150-200 range. He’ll need to show some improvement in his movement skills in order to make that jump, but it’s definitely possible. He’s d-line No. 21 for us right now. I could see him, potentially, reaching d-line No. 15, but that’s only if he shows improvement in those areas.
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