Warning: Ole Miss has some “real dogs” on the defensive side of the football.
Translation: Yes. The Rebels have two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates on the offensive side of the football. Yes. The Rebels are deep at just about every offensive position. Yes. It is fun to score a lot of points.
But don’t forget about the defense.
It’s loaded, too.
Just ask former five-star Kam Franklin, who happens to be one of those self-described “real dogs” on that side of the ball.
“Those guys came in hungry,” Franklin, a defensive lineman, says. “We’ve got some real dogs…From the first day, you could see everybody’s demeanor. I think everybody wants the same thing here. We’ve been putting in the work, and I see a lot of like-minded people—from the coaching staff on down.”
Franklin, entering his junior season, made a mark last year, as Ole Miss advanced to the national semifinals of the College Football Playoffs. The D-lineman who signed with the Rebels out of nearby Desoto Central (Miss.) High School, played in every game as a sophomore, getting his hands in on 69 tackles along the way.
Coupled with fellow defensive lineman Will Echoles, who is from Houston, Miss., Franklin gives Ole Miss a difficult 1-2 punch on the defensive line that is…well…homemade.
That means something to Franklin, and is one reason he did not transfer when Kiffin scatted to LSU.
“For me, it’s simple. I’m from here. It means a lot to wear ‘Mississippi’ across my chest,” Franklin said.
“I want kids from here and across the country to know you can do it here…I feel like a lot of people look down on Mississippi, so being able to succeed here means something to me.”
Ole Miss opens its highly-anticipated season on Sun., Sept. 6, versus the Louisville Cardinals at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.