With CeCe Jefferson's paperwork finally filed in Gainesville, Fla., it's time to turn the page to the Class of 2016.
Ole Miss has already done that, having landed eight commitments, including soon-to-be-five-star wide receiver Dekaylin Metcalf and four-star defensive tackle Benito Jones.
Here's a bit of a 2016 primer, courtesy of our friends at The Clearwater Group. These are targets _ some very legitimate, some long shots _ that you might want to keep an eye on over the next 11 ½ months.
This list, like all recruiting lists, will change as offers roll in and as the evaluation process unfolds. Just know, as we tell you so often, the recruiting calendar has sped up. From now until mid-July is the heat of the recruiting process. Recruiting junkies love the drama of December and January, but by the holidays, the bulk of the work on building the 2016 signing class will be in the books.
Besides Metcalf and Jones, Ole Miss has commitments from tight ends Octavious Cooley and Gabe Angel, running backs Justin Conner and Denzel Mitchell, offensive lineman Eli Johnson and wide receiver Daniel Crowell. Per sources, the only one of those commitments that could be deemed at all shaky at this point in Crowell, based primarily on the fact that some of his Meridian (Miss.) High School teammates being committed to other programs (Alabama, Mississippi State).
Sources close to the Ole Miss program believe Benito Jones is as good as another former Waynesboro, Miss., star. Insiders compare Jones to former Ole Miss star/current NFL defensive lineman Jerrell Powe when Powe was in high school. The Rebels, per sources, believe Cooley has unbelievable athleticism. Cooley, they say, is a legitimate 6-foot-3 with long arms and tremendous upside.
Other key targets in Mississippi include Macon defensive end Jeffery Simmons, Meridian defensive tackle Raekwon Davis and safety Quincy Lenton, Starkville defensive tackle Kobe Jones and wide receiver A.J. Brown, Batesville defensive end Drelan Porter and Madison defensive back Nigel Knott.
In addition, Ole Miss has its eyes on multiple other potential targets in Mississippi. That list includes Oak Grove wide receiver Jordan Duncan, Laurel quarterback/ATH Keon Howard, Hollandale defensive back/ATH Nero Nelson, Holmes County defensive end Damien Dickens, Philadelphia offensive tackle Greg Eiland, Aberdeen ATH Jerrick Orr, Bassfield defensive tackle Jerome Johnson, Jackson (Callaway) offensive guard Javious Bardney, Shaw ATH Jermarquis Stimage, Crystal Springs ATH Jeriko Morris, North Pike quarterback/ATH Juwan Adams and Florence offensive lineman Gentle Williams.
Looking at a bit of a position-by-position breakdown, Ole Miss' wish list at quarterback centers around one name. Shreveport, La., five-star Shea Patterson could make a decision soon (Note: since this was first published Thursday evening, Patterson has set an announcement date for Tuesday at noon at his school in Shreveport), and all signs point towards Ole Miss. Patterson, in the estimation of one top Ole Miss source, would mark the biggest commitment for the Rebels since Eli Manning in December 1998.
If Mitchell and Conner remain committed, the Rebels are likely set at running back. They also covet IMG Academy running back Tony Jones and North Carolina product Robert Washington, and both prospects are expected on campus at some point in the next few months.
Metcalf is obviously the Rebels' top wide receiver target, but he won't be the only signee at that position. Ole Miss really loves A.J. Brown, and there's a feeling among people close to Brown that he is serious about wanting to get out of Starkville. Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU --- in that order --- appear to be early leaders. Patterson, La., four-star wide receiver Mykel Jones is also a major target. Get used to the following sentence: Jones is friends with Shea Patterson, and if Patterson commits to Ole Miss early, the Rebels will be a major player.
Another Louisiana-based wideout, New Orleans four-star Clyde LeFlore-Chriss, is on Ole Miss' radar, and the Rebels' chances will be accentuated if they add Patterson. So far, Texas A&M appears to be an early favorite. Memphis' Dylan Mitchell is also an Ole Miss target. He's committed to Oregon, but Ole Miss will continue to recruit him and he's indicated he'll visit at some point. Plantation, Fla., wide receiver Dredrick Snelson has tons of offers, but Ole Miss feels it can get in the mix over the next few months.
At tight end, assuming both Angel and Cooley stay with Ole Miss, the Rebels are happy with what they've got in 2016.
I wrote a story earlier this week on River Ridge, La., offensive tackle Willie Allen. It's going to be tough to beat out Alabama and LSU, but Patterson's commitment will help. Ole Miss will have a shot. There was a rumor that he was close to committing to Ole Miss on his visit, but that doesn't appear to be true. I'd give the Rebels a puncher's chance.
Philadelphia, Miss., offensive tackle Greg Eiland is huge, but he's got to prove he can move well enough to play at the SEC level. He's visited Ole Miss, and the Rebels like him. Ole Miss covets Toccoa, Ga., offensive tackle Ben Cleveland, but he's committed to Georgia and he's not likely to change his mind.
Ole Miss likes Starkville's Kobe Jones best as an offensive tackle, but the Rebels are open to playing him on defense if that's what he prefers. It's likely an uphill battle for the Rebels, however, in their attempt to catch Mississippi State.
Ole Miss covets four-star Georgia offensive tackle E.J. Price. He's got multiple offers, and it's likely a long shot, but he's likely coming in at some point in the spring. Holmes County Central, Miss., offensive lineman Darius Redmond is 6-4 and 280 pounds and is a good athlete. He'll be evaluated at camp.
Tyrone (Sandy Creek), Ga., offensive lineman Chandler Tuitt picked up a Georgia offer this week. Ole Miss has had success at Sandy Creek, and he'll visit. The Rebels like him at guard.
Ole Miss likes South Panola's Porter, and most expect him to end up on the Rebels' list, perhaps soon. I wrote a story on Simmons earlier this week. Ole Miss loves him, per sources, and thinks he's a five-star-caliber talent. Simmons' brother played at Southern Miss. Ole Miss leads, but expect a back-and-forth battle between the Rebels and Mississippi State.
Stockbridge, Ga., defensive end Charles Wiley was a high school teammate of Ole Miss cornerback Kendarius Webster. The Rebels are in the mix for Wiley along with Georgia, Clemson and Auburn.
The Rebels like New Orleans defensive end Andre Anthony, who has a frame very similar to Porter's. Brownsville, Tenn., defensive end Emmit Gooden is a major want as well, but it appears Tennessee and Mississippi State are the early leaders.
Metairie, La., four-star defensive tackle Briston Guidry visited Ole Miss for junior day and he had a very good time. The Rivals100 standout has multiple offers, including one he just picked up from LSU. Bassfield, Miss., defensive tackle Jerome Johnson could play offensive tackle at the college level. Mississippi State leads early.
Nashville, Tenn., linebacker Daniel Bituli is tight with recent Ole Miss signee Alex Givens. Look for Ole Miss and Tennessee to battle for Bituli. Memphis' Tim Hart could move to the top of Ole Miss' linebacker board. He picked up an early Ole Miss offer and really likes the Rebels.
Crystal Springs, Miss., linebacker/ATH Jerriko Morris could play safety at the college level as well and could get an offer with a solid camp performance. Mississippi State leads. Calhoun City, Miss., linebacker/running back Breiton Sykes will work both spots in camp in all likelihood. Ole Miss, per sources, would love to play him at linebacker.
Springhill, La., linebacker/ATH Devin White is tight with Shea Patterson and has indicated he's interested in leaving Louisiana for the right situation. Charlotte, N.C., linebacker Julian Okwara is expected to visit Ole Miss this spring.
Juwan Adams could play safety or wide receiver in college, though he wants a crack at quarterback. Texas safety Deontay Anderson has had Ole Miss' interest for a while. He's going to visit this summer. The same applies to another Texas-based defensive back, Brandon Jones, though the Rebels will have a hard time pulling him out of the Lone Star State.
Ole Miss absolutely covets Knott. Look for an Ole Miss-Mississippi State battle there. Ole Miss likes D'Iberville, Miss., safety Jaquelle Green, but LSU leads. Meridian, Miss., safety Quincy Lenton is committed to Mississippi State, but the Rebels are pursuing. Hollandale, Miss., safety Nero Nelson could play corner at the college level. That evaluation will determine how hot of a prospect he is this fall. The same likely holds for Clinton, Miss., safety Lamarcus Thomas.
Among other names to watch include Waco, Texas, cornerback Eric Cuffee; Chattanooga, Tenn., cornerback Nigel Edmonds; Memphis safety Donte Vaughn; Shreveport, La., ATH Andraez Williams; Houston (North Shore) ATH Maciah Long and safety Eric Monroe; Westfield, Texas, defensive tackle Ed Oliver; and Rosa Fort, Miss., defensive end Hal Northern.
It's way too early to go in-depth on 2017 targets --- at least in my opinion - but here are a handful of early names in Mississippi to keep an eye on: Greenwood defensive end Marquiss Spencer, Clinton running back Cam Akers, Biloxi wide receiver Tim Jones, Jackson (Callaway) defensive end Aaron Odom, Ridgeland ATH Kam White, Batesville (South Panola) defensive tackle O'Bryan Goodson and Amory offensive tackle Jalen Bell.
This post was edited on 2/13 5:12 AM by Neal McCready
This post was edited on 2/13 9:37 AM by Jeffrey Wright
Ole Miss has already done that, having landed eight commitments, including soon-to-be-five-star wide receiver Dekaylin Metcalf and four-star defensive tackle Benito Jones.
Here's a bit of a 2016 primer, courtesy of our friends at The Clearwater Group. These are targets _ some very legitimate, some long shots _ that you might want to keep an eye on over the next 11 ½ months.
This list, like all recruiting lists, will change as offers roll in and as the evaluation process unfolds. Just know, as we tell you so often, the recruiting calendar has sped up. From now until mid-July is the heat of the recruiting process. Recruiting junkies love the drama of December and January, but by the holidays, the bulk of the work on building the 2016 signing class will be in the books.
Besides Metcalf and Jones, Ole Miss has commitments from tight ends Octavious Cooley and Gabe Angel, running backs Justin Conner and Denzel Mitchell, offensive lineman Eli Johnson and wide receiver Daniel Crowell. Per sources, the only one of those commitments that could be deemed at all shaky at this point in Crowell, based primarily on the fact that some of his Meridian (Miss.) High School teammates being committed to other programs (Alabama, Mississippi State).
Sources close to the Ole Miss program believe Benito Jones is as good as another former Waynesboro, Miss., star. Insiders compare Jones to former Ole Miss star/current NFL defensive lineman Jerrell Powe when Powe was in high school. The Rebels, per sources, believe Cooley has unbelievable athleticism. Cooley, they say, is a legitimate 6-foot-3 with long arms and tremendous upside.
Other key targets in Mississippi include Macon defensive end Jeffery Simmons, Meridian defensive tackle Raekwon Davis and safety Quincy Lenton, Starkville defensive tackle Kobe Jones and wide receiver A.J. Brown, Batesville defensive end Drelan Porter and Madison defensive back Nigel Knott.
In addition, Ole Miss has its eyes on multiple other potential targets in Mississippi. That list includes Oak Grove wide receiver Jordan Duncan, Laurel quarterback/ATH Keon Howard, Hollandale defensive back/ATH Nero Nelson, Holmes County defensive end Damien Dickens, Philadelphia offensive tackle Greg Eiland, Aberdeen ATH Jerrick Orr, Bassfield defensive tackle Jerome Johnson, Jackson (Callaway) offensive guard Javious Bardney, Shaw ATH Jermarquis Stimage, Crystal Springs ATH Jeriko Morris, North Pike quarterback/ATH Juwan Adams and Florence offensive lineman Gentle Williams.
Looking at a bit of a position-by-position breakdown, Ole Miss' wish list at quarterback centers around one name. Shreveport, La., five-star Shea Patterson could make a decision soon (Note: since this was first published Thursday evening, Patterson has set an announcement date for Tuesday at noon at his school in Shreveport), and all signs point towards Ole Miss. Patterson, in the estimation of one top Ole Miss source, would mark the biggest commitment for the Rebels since Eli Manning in December 1998.
If Mitchell and Conner remain committed, the Rebels are likely set at running back. They also covet IMG Academy running back Tony Jones and North Carolina product Robert Washington, and both prospects are expected on campus at some point in the next few months.
Metcalf is obviously the Rebels' top wide receiver target, but he won't be the only signee at that position. Ole Miss really loves A.J. Brown, and there's a feeling among people close to Brown that he is serious about wanting to get out of Starkville. Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU --- in that order --- appear to be early leaders. Patterson, La., four-star wide receiver Mykel Jones is also a major target. Get used to the following sentence: Jones is friends with Shea Patterson, and if Patterson commits to Ole Miss early, the Rebels will be a major player.
Another Louisiana-based wideout, New Orleans four-star Clyde LeFlore-Chriss, is on Ole Miss' radar, and the Rebels' chances will be accentuated if they add Patterson. So far, Texas A&M appears to be an early favorite. Memphis' Dylan Mitchell is also an Ole Miss target. He's committed to Oregon, but Ole Miss will continue to recruit him and he's indicated he'll visit at some point. Plantation, Fla., wide receiver Dredrick Snelson has tons of offers, but Ole Miss feels it can get in the mix over the next few months.
At tight end, assuming both Angel and Cooley stay with Ole Miss, the Rebels are happy with what they've got in 2016.
I wrote a story earlier this week on River Ridge, La., offensive tackle Willie Allen. It's going to be tough to beat out Alabama and LSU, but Patterson's commitment will help. Ole Miss will have a shot. There was a rumor that he was close to committing to Ole Miss on his visit, but that doesn't appear to be true. I'd give the Rebels a puncher's chance.
Philadelphia, Miss., offensive tackle Greg Eiland is huge, but he's got to prove he can move well enough to play at the SEC level. He's visited Ole Miss, and the Rebels like him. Ole Miss covets Toccoa, Ga., offensive tackle Ben Cleveland, but he's committed to Georgia and he's not likely to change his mind.
Ole Miss likes Starkville's Kobe Jones best as an offensive tackle, but the Rebels are open to playing him on defense if that's what he prefers. It's likely an uphill battle for the Rebels, however, in their attempt to catch Mississippi State.
Ole Miss covets four-star Georgia offensive tackle E.J. Price. He's got multiple offers, and it's likely a long shot, but he's likely coming in at some point in the spring. Holmes County Central, Miss., offensive lineman Darius Redmond is 6-4 and 280 pounds and is a good athlete. He'll be evaluated at camp.
Tyrone (Sandy Creek), Ga., offensive lineman Chandler Tuitt picked up a Georgia offer this week. Ole Miss has had success at Sandy Creek, and he'll visit. The Rebels like him at guard.
Ole Miss likes South Panola's Porter, and most expect him to end up on the Rebels' list, perhaps soon. I wrote a story on Simmons earlier this week. Ole Miss loves him, per sources, and thinks he's a five-star-caliber talent. Simmons' brother played at Southern Miss. Ole Miss leads, but expect a back-and-forth battle between the Rebels and Mississippi State.
Stockbridge, Ga., defensive end Charles Wiley was a high school teammate of Ole Miss cornerback Kendarius Webster. The Rebels are in the mix for Wiley along with Georgia, Clemson and Auburn.
The Rebels like New Orleans defensive end Andre Anthony, who has a frame very similar to Porter's. Brownsville, Tenn., defensive end Emmit Gooden is a major want as well, but it appears Tennessee and Mississippi State are the early leaders.
Metairie, La., four-star defensive tackle Briston Guidry visited Ole Miss for junior day and he had a very good time. The Rivals100 standout has multiple offers, including one he just picked up from LSU. Bassfield, Miss., defensive tackle Jerome Johnson could play offensive tackle at the college level. Mississippi State leads early.
Nashville, Tenn., linebacker Daniel Bituli is tight with recent Ole Miss signee Alex Givens. Look for Ole Miss and Tennessee to battle for Bituli. Memphis' Tim Hart could move to the top of Ole Miss' linebacker board. He picked up an early Ole Miss offer and really likes the Rebels.
Crystal Springs, Miss., linebacker/ATH Jerriko Morris could play safety at the college level as well and could get an offer with a solid camp performance. Mississippi State leads. Calhoun City, Miss., linebacker/running back Breiton Sykes will work both spots in camp in all likelihood. Ole Miss, per sources, would love to play him at linebacker.
Springhill, La., linebacker/ATH Devin White is tight with Shea Patterson and has indicated he's interested in leaving Louisiana for the right situation. Charlotte, N.C., linebacker Julian Okwara is expected to visit Ole Miss this spring.
Juwan Adams could play safety or wide receiver in college, though he wants a crack at quarterback. Texas safety Deontay Anderson has had Ole Miss' interest for a while. He's going to visit this summer. The same applies to another Texas-based defensive back, Brandon Jones, though the Rebels will have a hard time pulling him out of the Lone Star State.
Ole Miss absolutely covets Knott. Look for an Ole Miss-Mississippi State battle there. Ole Miss likes D'Iberville, Miss., safety Jaquelle Green, but LSU leads. Meridian, Miss., safety Quincy Lenton is committed to Mississippi State, but the Rebels are pursuing. Hollandale, Miss., safety Nero Nelson could play corner at the college level. That evaluation will determine how hot of a prospect he is this fall. The same likely holds for Clinton, Miss., safety Lamarcus Thomas.
Among other names to watch include Waco, Texas, cornerback Eric Cuffee; Chattanooga, Tenn., cornerback Nigel Edmonds; Memphis safety Donte Vaughn; Shreveport, La., ATH Andraez Williams; Houston (North Shore) ATH Maciah Long and safety Eric Monroe; Westfield, Texas, defensive tackle Ed Oliver; and Rosa Fort, Miss., defensive end Hal Northern.
It's way too early to go in-depth on 2017 targets --- at least in my opinion - but here are a handful of early names in Mississippi to keep an eye on: Greenwood defensive end Marquiss Spencer, Clinton running back Cam Akers, Biloxi wide receiver Tim Jones, Jackson (Callaway) defensive end Aaron Odom, Ridgeland ATH Kam White, Batesville (South Panola) defensive tackle O'Bryan Goodson and Amory offensive tackle Jalen Bell.
This post was edited on 2/13 5:12 AM by Neal McCready
This post was edited on 2/13 9:37 AM by Jeffrey Wright
