Tennessee Football has continued to heavily pursue four-star prospect Kamarion Franklin. The defensive lineman was back on campus Saturday for the Orange and White game.
The prospect out of Lake Cormorant (Miss.) High School, just south of Memphis, locked in an official visit with Tennessee for June. Franklin ranks as the No. 7 defensive lineman in his class.
“Really just relationships with the coaches made me do that,” Franklin told Off The Hook Sports on Saturday. “I feel like Tennessee could be a possible fit.”
In December, Franklin released his top ten schools that included Tennessee among Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Texas and Texas A&M
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and defensive line coach Rodney Garner have been very involved in the recruitment of Franklin from the beginning. The Vols extended him a scholarship offer in November 2021.
“It’s good,” Franklin said of his relationship with Heupel. “He prioritized me. We talk a lot.”
Franklin has also spoken with defensive analyst and former Vol standout defensive end Robert Ayers and other defensive staff members, but Garner has stood out.
“Straight forward, we talk all the time and he tells me what I want to hear,” Franklin said. “He’s separating themselves from some schools. There’s other schools that tell me (what I want to hear), he’s adding himself to that boat.”
Franklin, the No. 1 prospect from Mississippi, was paying close attention to Tennessee’s defensive line. During his junior year of high school, Franklin accounted for 19 sacks and 93 tackles.
“I feel like the defensive line did alright, did good,” Franklin said. “I like how they rotate them in and out, keeps them fresh.”
During his trip to Knoxville, Franklin was also able to interact with some players and get a first-hand look at what it would look like to play for Tennessee.
Defensive lineman Omari Thomas and Daevin Hobbs were the two players that Franklin interacted with the most. He also got to speak to defensive back John Slaughter.
“They just told me, coach Heup, good man and great coach,” Franklin said. “The defensive lineman let me know that how coach Garner is acting right now is how he is every day, he doesn’t fake recruiting.”
Franklin initially expected a decision to come during his senior season, but he could speed that up to the end of summer after taking his visits.
