Here's all the official stuff from the UM from yesterday:
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss football welcomed 21 new high school and junior college prospects on Wednesday's early signing day, pushing the Rebels to a unanimous top-25 class by all four major recruiting services.
Ole Miss accepted national letters of intent from 17 high school signees and four junior college additions. In total, the Rebels will welcome in one five-star signee in DL
Kam Franklin (Lake Cormorant, Miss./Lake Cormorant HS), 13 four-stars and seven three-star prospects. All four JUCO signees rank within the national top-10, including the No. 1 rated JUCO prospect by Rivals and On3, WR
Deion Smith (Jackson, Miss./Holmes CC). Ole Miss will also add six from the ESPN300 and five who received at least one top-150 ranking from any of the major services – topped out by Franklin's No. 17 overall rank by Rivals.
As a team, Ole Miss holds a top ranking of No. 17 from Rivals, a No. 19 ranking from both ESPN and On3, and a No. 21 slot by 247Sports.
"Today was an exciting day," said Ole Miss head coach
Lane Kiffin. "Lots of things going on between practicing for a major bowl and having Signing Day on the same day. I'm excited for so many players around the country that achieve their dream of making a college decision today. It's always a special day for all of them and their families. We're excited about the guys that are coming here. I want to credit our staff, really our whole building, for putting a lot of work into these high school, portal, and junior college players. To be able to put this many guys together takes a lot of work by a lot of people. I'm very grateful to all those that helped around here. Our staff put together, what I think, collection-wise, would easily be our best class we've signed since we've been here."
The Rebels once again did considerable work in the state of Mississippi, signing 11 from the Magnolia State – including five of the top-10 players in the state across all four major services. Franklin and Smith are among the highlights of the new Mississippi signees, as well as unanimous four-stars DL
Kamron Beavers (Bay Springs, Miss./Bay Springs HS) and DL
William Echoles (Houston, Miss./Houston HS). Other four-star signees from Mississippi include QB
AJ Maddox (Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove HS), DL
Jeffery Rush (Pascagoula, Miss./Pascagoula HS), WR
Noreel White (Moss Point, Miss./St. Martin) and top JUCO linebacker,
Raymond Collins (Gulfport, Miss./Jones College).
"There's combinations of things that go into (recruiting in-state)," Kiffin said. "I think this was a really good year, in-state, of players, especially defensive linemen. I feel like it was the best class of in-state players, high-level players, since we've been here."
Defense was a particular focal point for the Rebels this recruiting cycle, with 12 signees on that side of the ball – highlighted by five key additions along the defensive line. Four of those newcomers on the defensive line – Beavers, Echoles, Franklin and Rush – hail from Mississippi, and are joined in this signing class by three-star addition
Cam Clark (Medina, Tenn./South Gibson HS).
"Our whole staff's done a great job," Kiffin said. "(Defensive coordinator) Pete (Golding) has always been a relentless recruiter. I think that when you get someone out of Alabama, it's easier to show that because at Alabama, they just always recruit at a high level, regardless of who's there, because coach (Saban) does such a great job. Now it's so easy to recruit because of the amount of draft picks they've had. Pete's been unbelievable. He's done a really good job of improving our defense on the field and now. He really didn't have a chance last season because he didn't have an off-season because of how late he got here. His relationships with players from previous recruiting went a long way too. Like I said, maybe we won't be very good, but we'll look really good coming out of the tunnel."
Five-star addition Franklin highlights those talented new signees as the No. 1 rated player in Mississippi by On3 and Rivals, as well as a consensus top-75 recruit nationally and a unanimous top-20 player at his position – topped by a No. 3 defensive lineman ranking by Rivals. An Under Armour All-American, Franklin was the MHSAA 5A Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all-state honoree in 2023 following a 75-tackle senior season that featured seven TFL, four sacks and five pass breakups.
Smith, from Holmes Community College, leads six offensive four-star additions for Ole Miss as a unanimous four-star transfer by all the major outlets and a unanimous top-five JUCO prospect – including a No. 1 ranking by Rivals and On3. At Holmes, Smith was a NJCAA All-American after hauling in 48 passes for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns. He compiled six games of at least 100 yards receiving, as well as five games with multiple receiving touchdowns.
Prior to Holmes, Smith played five games as a true freshman at LSU in 2021, catching 11 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Coming out of Jackson Academy, Smith was a four-star prospect and the No. 1 ranked high school player in Mississippi.
Other four-star offensive additions included Maddox, White, OL
Kavion Broussard (New Iberia, La./Zachary HS), OL
John Wayne Oliver (Nashville, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian) and WR
Marquis Willis (Atlanta, Ga./Coahoma CC).
Interested in season tickets for the Rebels' 2024 campaign?
Join our interest list and be the first to know when tickets become available.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @olemissfb on
Twitter and
Instagram and OleMissFootball on
Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at OleMissSports on
Twitter and
Facebook and OleMissAthletics on
Instagram.
| 2024 OLE MISS EARLY SIGNING CLASS | | | | | | |
| NAME | POS. | HT. | WT. | YEAR | EXP. | HOMETOWN / PREV. SCHOOL |
| Katrevrick Banks | DB | 6-3 | 185 | Fr. | HS | Homer, La. / Homer |
| Travaris Banks | DB | 6-2 | 195 | Fr. | HS | Tuscaloosa, Ala. / Hillcrest |
| Cedrick Beavers | DB | 5-10 | 180 | Jr. | TR | Taylorsville, Miss. / Jones College |
| Kamron Beavers | DL | 6-3 | 255 | Fr. | HS | Bay Springs, Miss. / Bay Springs |
| Patrick Broomfield | DB | 6-2 | 160 | Fr. | HS | Clarksdale, Miss. / Clarksdale |
| Kavion Broussard | OL | 6-6 | 275 | Fr. | HS | New Iberia, La. / Zachary |
| Cam Clark | DL | 6-3 | 235 | Fr. | HS | Medina, Tenn. / South Gibson |
| Raymond Collins | LB | 6-2 | 240 | Jr. | TR | Gulfport, Miss. / Jones College |
| Shamaar Darden | DB | 6-1 | 175 | Fr. | HS | Tupelo, Miss. / Tupelo |
| William Echoles | DL | 6-3 | 295 | Fr. | HS | Houston, Miss. / Houston |
| Jude Foster | OL | 6-4 | 300 | Fr. | HS | Baton Rouge, La. / Southern Lab |
| Kam Franklin | DL | 6-6 | 265 | Fr. | HS | Lake Cormorant, Miss. / Lake Cormorant |
| Dillon Hipp | TE | 6-6 | 240 | Fr. | HS | Scottsdale, Ariz. / Desert Mountain |
| Andy Jaffe | DB | 6-1 | 185 | Fr. | HS | Tampa, Fla. / Clearwater Central Catholic |
| AJ Maddox | QB | 6-2 | 175 | Fr. | HS | Hattiesburg, Miss. / Oak Grove |
| John Wayne Oliver | OL | 6-5 | 285 | Fr. | HS | Nashville, Tenn. / Christ Presbyterian |
| Anthony Robinson III | DB | 6-1 | 190 | Fr. | HS | St. Rose, La. / Destrehan |
| Jeffery Rush | DL | 6-2 | 290 | Fr. | HS | Pascagoula, Miss. / Pascahoula |
| Deion Smith | WR | 6-3 | 180 | Jr. | TR | Jackson, Miss. / LSU |
| Noreel White | WR | 6-1 | 185 | Fr. | HS | Homer, La. / St. Martin |
| Marquis Willis | WR | 6-2 | 220 | Jr. | TR | Homer, La. / Coahoma CC |
Opening Statement:
"Today was an exciting day. Lots of things going on between practicing for a major bowl and having Signing Day on the same day. I'm excited for so many players around the country that achieve their dream of making a college decision today. It's always a special day for all of them and their families. We're excited about the guys that are coming here. I want to credit our staff, really our whole building, for putting a lot of work into these high school, portal, and junior college players. To be able to put this many guys together takes a lot of work by a lot of people. I'm very grateful to all those that helped around here. Our staff put together, what I think, collection wise, would easily be our best class we've signed since we've been here."
On the Grove Collective and Ole Miss fans:
"A lot of thanks goes to Walker Jones and the Grove Collective, and our fans. I think I said a while back in an interview we kind of feel like the Green Bay Packers of college football, where our fans and our state kind of own our team, and I think they've really shown up and done a great job in a number of ways, including support during the season and in the stands. This season was the highest attendance for a season in the history of the school. Lot of good things going on right now and we're excited about that. "
On Signing Day in 2023:
"I feel like there's not as much buzz around the country because of the system the NCAA has created. It's kind of a shame as we look at projections out and analytics, it's looking like it's headed in the direction of 75 percent of these kids who sign across the country today will end up in the portal and not where they sign today. The higher the rankings, more stars, the more likely they'll be in the portal at least once. I think that's kind of unfortunate about the system, but it is what it is. I've said all along, it's a really poor system on all fronts. We haven't even finished our season and we're in free agency. Nowhere else, no other sport, would you have free agency before the postseason play. Just think if the NFL or the NBA, before the playoffs, started free agency and people could start taking players from rosters. It's very unfortunate the way it is, but I've always said, it's not complaining. We'll maximize the rules around it and put together the best rosters that we can."
On how the recent winning in the program has helped recruiting:
"It helps a lot. I think you guys know, I'm pretty realistic when I'm up here. From the beginning, NIL and collectives are important in this. People used to say they aren't, but they are. But also, other things are a factor too, and I do think us winning helps. As you said, third most wins in the SEC since we've gotten here behind Georgia and Alabama, and I think it shows kids that you can come here and win. I definitely feel that helps. I feel that going into schools, family rooms, college campuses nowadays. I think that there's a different feeling walking into Ole Miss than there was when we got here. Different acceptance level and different interest."
On if he treats high school recruiting differently because of the transfer portal:
"I'm not going to come up here and give our whole studies and game plans to everything that we do, just like game day. I think that we're pretty creative in those areas of research and analytics and studies. You've heard us say not just thinking outside the box but creating a new box and I think we really do that. Maybe some day I'll explain why we do all this stuff, maybe it'll make more sense, but there's a lot into the breakdown of the high school players and the style of high school players that we take. The mentality of them, how they think, but I think that's more important now, knowing that if things don't go exactly how they want then other guys are going to go into the portal really fast. Then what do you really have? You've got nothing, and these collectives played this money out for these big star players, and a year from now they're playing against you."
On recruiting multiple defensive backs from the SEC:
"We sat in a press conference and this really started in Athens, Georgia. I think you guys sensed my disappointment after that game in the way that I coached and some other things. I just said 'We're going to do everything in our power to change the way that we look. As a team, but especially defensively.' We might not be very good, but we're going to look a lot better in our uniforms. A lot of that was signing players that are already significant players in the SEC, that we've seen play against these teams. We have not been a very big team. Especially defensively, we're a very short team. I love our players, I love how hard they play, but length matters at times. That's why the draft is drafted the way it is. We definitely have improved overall with significant players on offense, but really on defense. A lot more players that I think compete at a high level that give you a chance to be an elite defense in the SEC."
On Pete Golding's impact in shaping the roster:
"Our whole staff's done a great job. Pete has always been a relentless recruiter. I think that when you get someone out of Alabama, it's easier to show that because at Alabama, they just always recruits at a high level regardless of who's there, because coach (Saban) does such a great job. Now it's so easy to recruit because of the amount of draft picks they've had. Pete's been unbelievable. He's done a really good job of improving our defense on the field and now. He really didn't have a chance last season because he didn't have an off-season because of how late he got here. His relationships with players from previous recruiting went a long way too. Like I said, maybe we won't be very good, but we'll look really good coming out of the tunnel."
On his success with in-state recruiting:
"I think that like I've said with anything, there's combinations of things that go into that. I think this was a really good year, in-state, of players, especially defensive linemen. I feel like it was the best class of in-state players, high level players, since we've been here."
The official 2023-24 Football Roster for the Ole Miss Rebels
olemisssports.com
Daily recruiting notes are presented by A-1 Discount Tree and Lawn Service. For removal, trimming, stump grinding, demolition and land clearing, call A-1 at 601-981-4900 (tel:601-981-4900) or check out their website www.A1DiscountTree.com(http://www.a1discounttree.com/
olemiss.forums.rivals.com
n.rivals.com
![[banana]](https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/891/1682178.gif "banana [banana]")
