Chase Parham
I broke the news one week ago that Petal junior quarterback and 2012 major baseball prospect Anthony Alford played his final game of the season against Oak Grove with a torn ACL. The injury was discovered during the regular season, but, according to sources, Alford wanted to finish the year before surgery. Lamar Times/Petal News sports editor and good friend Ty Allushuski says that Alford’s surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, and he has a torn ACL, a torn meniscus and a strained LCL.
Doctors are telling Alford he’ll only miss about three months, but in my opinion that sounds incredibly optimistic. Where this becomes important is how healthy the knee will be next summer, when Alford will assuredly attend some baseball showcases in an attempt to increase draft interest. I’ve talked to several scouts familiar with Alford, and they almost universally compare him to former Ole Miss signee and Madison Central outfielder Ryan Bolden. Bolden was a top-40 pick by the Angels and signed a very lucrative six-figure contract. He heavily upped his worth at the East Coast Pro Showcase the year before he was drafted with a 6.38 60-yard dash time. I tell you this because Alford will likely need a similar performance at one of these events to warrant a deal large enough skip college, and a healthy knee would go a long way in achieving that. Should Alford’s rehab extend longer than expected, the percentage of him attending college as a two-sport athlete will also increase.
I talked to Tobias Singleton’s brother, Renarldo Singleton, last week. Renarldo is a sophomore at Ole Miss and is contemplating medical school. A lot of people, including myself, have said that Tobias’ brother was involved with the Ole Miss football program in some way, or at least we thought. Turns out, Renarldo was accepted as a trainer right before practice began back in August, but after a couple days, he quit due to Tobias’ status as a high-level recruit. It created an odd environment for Renarldo in Oxford and also for the Singleton family back in Madison. Renarldo told me he understands the situation, and he’s planning to return to the team as a trainer next season ? when Tobias’ recruitment is of course over.
Renarldo said that he and his family want Tobias at Ole Miss, but it’s not their decision, and they’ll support whichever school is chosen. He said he talks to Tobias about Ole Miss on occasion, but he doesn’t see that it makes a great impact. “Sometimes it seems to help, and sometimes it’s counter-productive,” Renarldo said.
The entire process is starting to become tiresome. Renarldo said Tobias’ family can’t go to the grocery store without people in town voicing opinions, and he was recently caught off guard when a simple Facebook message he wrote on Tobias’ wall turned into a massive argument. Interestingly enough regarding Facebook, Tobias approves all of his friend requests and attempts to respond to every message he’s sent.
“I don’t want to be rude,” Tobias said. “It doesn’t impact me, so I might as well reply.”
Tobias said he would either stay home this weekend or go watch Miss. State play Arkansas. He plans to be at the Egg Bowl next weekend.
Kameron Wood is contemplating visiting Arkansas, as I wrote in the story a couple days ago. What didn’t make the story is that Arkansas is attempting to tell Kameron that he has to de-commit from Ole Miss in order to visit. It’s a game teams play, and the Hogs are doing their best to play it. It doesn’t seem to be a big concern for the Rebels right now. Wood sounds pretty committed.
Callaway offensive lineman Aaron Morris is considering a couple official visits to schools other than Ole Miss. Auburn and Alabama are two of them. Aaron has taken my phone calls for more than a year, but I haven’t been able to reach him this week. I expect he’s still pretty committed and just taking some trips, but I found it odd I couldn’t get him on the phone. I’ve met his mother a few times, and she appears to want him to honor his commitments and stay close to home, as well.
Winona athlete Chief Brown is drawing mild-to-moderate interest from MLB scouts. It’s mostly low-market clubs, and I see no way an offer comes that would make Brown consider skipping college, but I’m just passing it along.
JUCO defensive tackle Gilbert Pena is getting some interest from Florida, but the Gators haven't offered.
Brandon Lockhart
Lithonia, Ga., linebacker Cedrick Cooper visited Columbia for the Gamecocks' October 30 game against Tennessee several weeks after his October 2 visit to Ole Miss, which was his first time to take in a college game. Both visits were unofficial and were the only trips he's taken thus far.
Cooper he's begun to carve out his official visit itinerary.
"I don't know when with South Carolina, but that's going to be an official. I have an official coming up for Arkansas on December 10 - that's a definite official (to Arkansas). I'm supposed to be going to Clemson November 27 for a visit. I don't know if that's going to be an official or what, so it most likely will be."
Cooper on an official to Ole Miss: "Oh yeah, definitely. I'm just not for sure when."
I texted Miami, (Southridge), Fla., commitments Gerrod Holliman and Andrew Johnson Thursday night. The pair recently canceled a trip to West Virginia, but both still plan to take an official visit to Morgantown. Johnson added LSU and Oregon as destinations for an official visit.
Johnson and Holliman visited Louisville on October 15 and plan to take officials to Ole Miss, obviously
Holliman's top five are Ole Miss, Louisville, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and LSU and Florida are fighting for the fifth spot.
Holliman is a tough read - occasionally it seems he's simply taking advantage of officials and other times it seems he's legitimately thinking about signing somewhere other than Ole Miss, despite his commitment. For whatever reason, I asked if he could put a percentage on his commitment, he said "45 percent". I'm not sure exactly how to interpret that, but to me it means that Ole Miss will fight off competing schools for the next two and a half months. The staff won't have a hard time selling playing time and Chris Vaughn and Co. will keep Holliman and Johnson at the highest of priorities.
Winona running back/safety Chief Brown said his commitment to Ole Miss is firm and "I love it (at Ole Miss), I love watching them play." Brown is being recruited by Ole Miss an athlete and is open to playing running back, wide receiver or safety. He keeps up with Derrick Nix every week and does not have any additional officials planned. Mississippi State, Memphis, Southern Miss and Arkansas State were recruiting Brown but none of said schools are considered a threat whatsoever.
This week, Brown has a playoff rematch against Water Valley, one of two teams to defeat Winona this season, in a game Brown described as "terrible and the worst game we played all year." He's had a monster year - 172 carries 1,895 yards for 26 rushing touchdowns, 12 receptions for 193 yards and three touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns to go with 48 tackles and eight interceptions.
Taylorsville linebacker Marcus Mayers does not know exactly when he will take his official, but knows "I'm going to take it soon." He'd like to take it after his high school season is complete (Taylorsville has a 2A semifinal game against Bassfield today), which is three weeks away, at the latest. He's solid in his commitment to Ole Miss.
Mayers has seen Ole Miss play three times - once in the Superdome for the Tulane game and Ole Miss' home games against Kentucky and Fresno State. He visited Alabama, Mississippi State, and Southern Miss several months ago but has made Ole Miss his only collegiate visit-destination for the past few months.
"I'm 100 percent Ole Miss, I didn't know if I was 100 percent (committed) at first, but now my mind is made up," said Mayers. "I just love the coaches, they still have good coaches who care about their players.”
Neal McCready
Forest, Miss., wide receiver Josh Pinkston is focused more on football than recruiting. His Forest team plays Hazelhurst in the third round Friday.
“It’s exciting,” said Pinkston, who’s always pretty guarded in interviews. “Everyone’s trying to get to the state championship.”
As for recruiting, Pinkston insisted he’s still “wide open” and continued to list no favorites. He did say, however, that he’s primarily hearing from Southern Miss, Ole Miss and Alabama. He’ll be in Hattiesburg this weekend to see the Golden Eagles.
“It’s pretty hard right now,” Pinkston said. “Everything will turn out sooner or later.”
I asked Pinkston if Ole Miss’ struggles this season have affected him at all. Most recruits say they haven’t, but Pinkston admitted that the Rebels’ losses have bothered him “a little.” However, Pinkston was quick to say what so many other prospects say: In the end, it’s about playing time.
“The program can be turned back around to a successful program after this year,” Pinkston said. “Ole Miss is pretty young right now and things can change.
“They’re young. They need receivers. They have moved some guys there from other positions to get depth. There would be possibility of early playing time if I decided to go there. USM wants me pretty bad, too. I don’t think they’re as thin at receiver but I think they could work me in somewhere.”
Pinkston, already very much a target, could become quite the priority, in my opinion, if Nick Brassell and Tobias Singleton end up somewhere other than Oxford. I won’t get into those two sagas as this point, as they’re certainly far from over. However, Ole Miss clearly needs receivers.
Donte Moncrief, who was recently selected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Game on Dec. 31 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Versus, 3 p.m. CST), appears very firm to Ole Miss. So do T.J. Worthy and Collins Moore (though Moore may take a visit or two). The Rebels need to sign five receivers, though, so developments on other receivers could provide some early clues regarding Brassell and/or Singleton.
Another name to watch at that position is California juco product Anthony Denham. From talking to him last week, I’d guess he’s planning to stay out west, but he will visit in early December and the Rebels will certainly show him the depth chart.
Chase updated Birmingham, Ala., defensive end Kameron Wood Thursday. I don’t have a lot to add, but I talked to Wood as well early this week and while he’s thinking about visiting Arkansas, my guess is he’s Ole Miss-bound. The Rebels’ struggles are troubling, sure, but for Wood, the chance to play immediately is intoxicating.
“I know now I can play linebacker and defensive end,” Wood said. “Ole Miss wants me to play linebacker. I’m more than willing to play it. I learned how to be more versatile. Coach Nix and Coach Price told me if I work out real hard, I have a good chance to play early.
“I look at them like a regular team. I just know when I get down there with the guys I’ve committed with, we’re going to have a major impact. We’re going to make older guys work and make a chain reaction.”
New York juco teammates Gilbert Pena and Ivan Nicholas will visit Ole Miss the same weekend Denham is in town. Pena is Ole Miss’ to lose, according to sources. Nicholas, a Florida native, is likely a priority as well. Ole Miss simply has to have more bodies back there, and Nicholas could make an impact similar to the one Damien Jackson made this fall. Both Pena and Nicholas are hoping to graduate next month, and it’s critical that they do if they’re going to impact a D-1 program in 2011.
Tre Mason will visit on Dec. 10. Auburn leads, but obviously, the Cam Newton situation is one prospects are watching, whether they admit it or not. How that shakes out could end up impacting Ole Miss’ chances with Mason, who appears to be the No. 1 running back on the Rebels’ board.
On to basketball…
I’m hesitant to opine all that much about Ole Miss after just two games, but I am confident saying this is a better team than the one I’ve covered the last two seasons. It’s better assembled, more versatile, deeper and it seems to possess that sometimes-elusive quality that separates very good teams from average ones ? chemistry.
This is Chris Warren’s team, without question. However, there are other leaders. Zach Graham’s role is clearly defined. So is Trevor Gaskins’ and Nick Williams’. This team seems to be comprised of guys who like each other. There’s a team-first feeling emanating from this team that I sometimes didn’t sense last season.
This team is very good defensively. Williams, Graham and Gaskins are excellent defenders, and Reggie Buckner is a presence in the post. It appears Demarco Cox and Steadman Short can help defensively immediately, and both have already helped on the boards. Cox’s offense is going to come; right now, it would just be a luxury.
In my opinion, the wildcard on this team is Terrance Henry. If he can be a 15-point, 8-rebound guy who stays out of foul trouble and hurts teams with his ability to dribble-drive as well as score with his back to the basket, Ole Miss can be dangerous.
Saturday’s game against Dayton, much like Wednesday’s win over Murray State, could loom huge in March. It’s one to follow with interest.
This post was edited on 11/19 11:06 AM by Chase Parham
I broke the news one week ago that Petal junior quarterback and 2012 major baseball prospect Anthony Alford played his final game of the season against Oak Grove with a torn ACL. The injury was discovered during the regular season, but, according to sources, Alford wanted to finish the year before surgery. Lamar Times/Petal News sports editor and good friend Ty Allushuski says that Alford’s surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, and he has a torn ACL, a torn meniscus and a strained LCL.
Doctors are telling Alford he’ll only miss about three months, but in my opinion that sounds incredibly optimistic. Where this becomes important is how healthy the knee will be next summer, when Alford will assuredly attend some baseball showcases in an attempt to increase draft interest. I’ve talked to several scouts familiar with Alford, and they almost universally compare him to former Ole Miss signee and Madison Central outfielder Ryan Bolden. Bolden was a top-40 pick by the Angels and signed a very lucrative six-figure contract. He heavily upped his worth at the East Coast Pro Showcase the year before he was drafted with a 6.38 60-yard dash time. I tell you this because Alford will likely need a similar performance at one of these events to warrant a deal large enough skip college, and a healthy knee would go a long way in achieving that. Should Alford’s rehab extend longer than expected, the percentage of him attending college as a two-sport athlete will also increase.
I talked to Tobias Singleton’s brother, Renarldo Singleton, last week. Renarldo is a sophomore at Ole Miss and is contemplating medical school. A lot of people, including myself, have said that Tobias’ brother was involved with the Ole Miss football program in some way, or at least we thought. Turns out, Renarldo was accepted as a trainer right before practice began back in August, but after a couple days, he quit due to Tobias’ status as a high-level recruit. It created an odd environment for Renarldo in Oxford and also for the Singleton family back in Madison. Renarldo told me he understands the situation, and he’s planning to return to the team as a trainer next season ? when Tobias’ recruitment is of course over.
Renarldo said that he and his family want Tobias at Ole Miss, but it’s not their decision, and they’ll support whichever school is chosen. He said he talks to Tobias about Ole Miss on occasion, but he doesn’t see that it makes a great impact. “Sometimes it seems to help, and sometimes it’s counter-productive,” Renarldo said.
The entire process is starting to become tiresome. Renarldo said Tobias’ family can’t go to the grocery store without people in town voicing opinions, and he was recently caught off guard when a simple Facebook message he wrote on Tobias’ wall turned into a massive argument. Interestingly enough regarding Facebook, Tobias approves all of his friend requests and attempts to respond to every message he’s sent.
“I don’t want to be rude,” Tobias said. “It doesn’t impact me, so I might as well reply.”
Tobias said he would either stay home this weekend or go watch Miss. State play Arkansas. He plans to be at the Egg Bowl next weekend.
Kameron Wood is contemplating visiting Arkansas, as I wrote in the story a couple days ago. What didn’t make the story is that Arkansas is attempting to tell Kameron that he has to de-commit from Ole Miss in order to visit. It’s a game teams play, and the Hogs are doing their best to play it. It doesn’t seem to be a big concern for the Rebels right now. Wood sounds pretty committed.
Callaway offensive lineman Aaron Morris is considering a couple official visits to schools other than Ole Miss. Auburn and Alabama are two of them. Aaron has taken my phone calls for more than a year, but I haven’t been able to reach him this week. I expect he’s still pretty committed and just taking some trips, but I found it odd I couldn’t get him on the phone. I’ve met his mother a few times, and she appears to want him to honor his commitments and stay close to home, as well.
Winona athlete Chief Brown is drawing mild-to-moderate interest from MLB scouts. It’s mostly low-market clubs, and I see no way an offer comes that would make Brown consider skipping college, but I’m just passing it along.
JUCO defensive tackle Gilbert Pena is getting some interest from Florida, but the Gators haven't offered.
Brandon Lockhart
Lithonia, Ga., linebacker Cedrick Cooper visited Columbia for the Gamecocks' October 30 game against Tennessee several weeks after his October 2 visit to Ole Miss, which was his first time to take in a college game. Both visits were unofficial and were the only trips he's taken thus far.
Cooper he's begun to carve out his official visit itinerary.
"I don't know when with South Carolina, but that's going to be an official. I have an official coming up for Arkansas on December 10 - that's a definite official (to Arkansas). I'm supposed to be going to Clemson November 27 for a visit. I don't know if that's going to be an official or what, so it most likely will be."
Cooper on an official to Ole Miss: "Oh yeah, definitely. I'm just not for sure when."
I texted Miami, (Southridge), Fla., commitments Gerrod Holliman and Andrew Johnson Thursday night. The pair recently canceled a trip to West Virginia, but both still plan to take an official visit to Morgantown. Johnson added LSU and Oregon as destinations for an official visit.
Johnson and Holliman visited Louisville on October 15 and plan to take officials to Ole Miss, obviously
Holliman's top five are Ole Miss, Louisville, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and LSU and Florida are fighting for the fifth spot.
Holliman is a tough read - occasionally it seems he's simply taking advantage of officials and other times it seems he's legitimately thinking about signing somewhere other than Ole Miss, despite his commitment. For whatever reason, I asked if he could put a percentage on his commitment, he said "45 percent". I'm not sure exactly how to interpret that, but to me it means that Ole Miss will fight off competing schools for the next two and a half months. The staff won't have a hard time selling playing time and Chris Vaughn and Co. will keep Holliman and Johnson at the highest of priorities.
Winona running back/safety Chief Brown said his commitment to Ole Miss is firm and "I love it (at Ole Miss), I love watching them play." Brown is being recruited by Ole Miss an athlete and is open to playing running back, wide receiver or safety. He keeps up with Derrick Nix every week and does not have any additional officials planned. Mississippi State, Memphis, Southern Miss and Arkansas State were recruiting Brown but none of said schools are considered a threat whatsoever.
This week, Brown has a playoff rematch against Water Valley, one of two teams to defeat Winona this season, in a game Brown described as "terrible and the worst game we played all year." He's had a monster year - 172 carries 1,895 yards for 26 rushing touchdowns, 12 receptions for 193 yards and three touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns to go with 48 tackles and eight interceptions.
Taylorsville linebacker Marcus Mayers does not know exactly when he will take his official, but knows "I'm going to take it soon." He'd like to take it after his high school season is complete (Taylorsville has a 2A semifinal game against Bassfield today), which is three weeks away, at the latest. He's solid in his commitment to Ole Miss.
Mayers has seen Ole Miss play three times - once in the Superdome for the Tulane game and Ole Miss' home games against Kentucky and Fresno State. He visited Alabama, Mississippi State, and Southern Miss several months ago but has made Ole Miss his only collegiate visit-destination for the past few months.
"I'm 100 percent Ole Miss, I didn't know if I was 100 percent (committed) at first, but now my mind is made up," said Mayers. "I just love the coaches, they still have good coaches who care about their players.”
Neal McCready
Forest, Miss., wide receiver Josh Pinkston is focused more on football than recruiting. His Forest team plays Hazelhurst in the third round Friday.
“It’s exciting,” said Pinkston, who’s always pretty guarded in interviews. “Everyone’s trying to get to the state championship.”
As for recruiting, Pinkston insisted he’s still “wide open” and continued to list no favorites. He did say, however, that he’s primarily hearing from Southern Miss, Ole Miss and Alabama. He’ll be in Hattiesburg this weekend to see the Golden Eagles.
“It’s pretty hard right now,” Pinkston said. “Everything will turn out sooner or later.”
I asked Pinkston if Ole Miss’ struggles this season have affected him at all. Most recruits say they haven’t, but Pinkston admitted that the Rebels’ losses have bothered him “a little.” However, Pinkston was quick to say what so many other prospects say: In the end, it’s about playing time.
“The program can be turned back around to a successful program after this year,” Pinkston said. “Ole Miss is pretty young right now and things can change.
“They’re young. They need receivers. They have moved some guys there from other positions to get depth. There would be possibility of early playing time if I decided to go there. USM wants me pretty bad, too. I don’t think they’re as thin at receiver but I think they could work me in somewhere.”
Pinkston, already very much a target, could become quite the priority, in my opinion, if Nick Brassell and Tobias Singleton end up somewhere other than Oxford. I won’t get into those two sagas as this point, as they’re certainly far from over. However, Ole Miss clearly needs receivers.
Donte Moncrief, who was recently selected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Game on Dec. 31 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Versus, 3 p.m. CST), appears very firm to Ole Miss. So do T.J. Worthy and Collins Moore (though Moore may take a visit or two). The Rebels need to sign five receivers, though, so developments on other receivers could provide some early clues regarding Brassell and/or Singleton.
Another name to watch at that position is California juco product Anthony Denham. From talking to him last week, I’d guess he’s planning to stay out west, but he will visit in early December and the Rebels will certainly show him the depth chart.
Chase updated Birmingham, Ala., defensive end Kameron Wood Thursday. I don’t have a lot to add, but I talked to Wood as well early this week and while he’s thinking about visiting Arkansas, my guess is he’s Ole Miss-bound. The Rebels’ struggles are troubling, sure, but for Wood, the chance to play immediately is intoxicating.
“I know now I can play linebacker and defensive end,” Wood said. “Ole Miss wants me to play linebacker. I’m more than willing to play it. I learned how to be more versatile. Coach Nix and Coach Price told me if I work out real hard, I have a good chance to play early.
“I look at them like a regular team. I just know when I get down there with the guys I’ve committed with, we’re going to have a major impact. We’re going to make older guys work and make a chain reaction.”
New York juco teammates Gilbert Pena and Ivan Nicholas will visit Ole Miss the same weekend Denham is in town. Pena is Ole Miss’ to lose, according to sources. Nicholas, a Florida native, is likely a priority as well. Ole Miss simply has to have more bodies back there, and Nicholas could make an impact similar to the one Damien Jackson made this fall. Both Pena and Nicholas are hoping to graduate next month, and it’s critical that they do if they’re going to impact a D-1 program in 2011.
Tre Mason will visit on Dec. 10. Auburn leads, but obviously, the Cam Newton situation is one prospects are watching, whether they admit it or not. How that shakes out could end up impacting Ole Miss’ chances with Mason, who appears to be the No. 1 running back on the Rebels’ board.
On to basketball…
I’m hesitant to opine all that much about Ole Miss after just two games, but I am confident saying this is a better team than the one I’ve covered the last two seasons. It’s better assembled, more versatile, deeper and it seems to possess that sometimes-elusive quality that separates very good teams from average ones ? chemistry.
This is Chris Warren’s team, without question. However, there are other leaders. Zach Graham’s role is clearly defined. So is Trevor Gaskins’ and Nick Williams’. This team seems to be comprised of guys who like each other. There’s a team-first feeling emanating from this team that I sometimes didn’t sense last season.
This team is very good defensively. Williams, Graham and Gaskins are excellent defenders, and Reggie Buckner is a presence in the post. It appears Demarco Cox and Steadman Short can help defensively immediately, and both have already helped on the boards. Cox’s offense is going to come; right now, it would just be a luxury.
In my opinion, the wildcard on this team is Terrance Henry. If he can be a 15-point, 8-rebound guy who stays out of foul trouble and hurts teams with his ability to dribble-drive as well as score with his back to the basket, Ole Miss can be dangerous.
Saturday’s game against Dayton, much like Wednesday’s win over Murray State, could loom huge in March. It’s one to follow with interest.
This post was edited on 11/19 11:06 AM by Chase Parham
