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Recruiting/Coaching Nuggets - Friday

Chase Parham

RebelGrove.com Editor
Staff
May 11, 2009
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Neal McCready:

Last night, we began to hear strong rumblings that Southern Mississippi strength and conditioning coach Paul Jackson was in line to accept the same role on Hugh Freeze’s staff at Ole Miss. We believe that announcement is likely not too far away. Jackson was part of Tommy Moffitt’s strength and conditioning staff at LSU from 2007 to 2010, and people close to the LSU program credit Moffitt _ and Les Miles’ total buy-in to Moffitt’s ideas _ for turning the Tigers into the dominant program they are today.

Freeze is still working to complete the remainder of his staff. We’re hearing Freeze will likely hire former Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier or former Miami and Ole Miss offensive coordinator Dan Werner as his quarterbacks coach. Derrick Nix, who spent the past four seasons as the running backs coach at Ole Miss under Houston Nutt, appears to be the favorite to assume the same spot on Freeze’s staff. One source said there’s a 95 percent chance Nix gets that job.

A new name surfacing as cornerbacks coach is Mississippi State assistant Melvin Smith. I was told this morning those talks could get hot after the Bulldogs’ Music City Bowl game against Wake Forest today is over. Former Ole Miss defensive back Derek Jones, currently an assistant at Duke, and former South Panola/Alabama/Pittsburgh Steelers star cornerback DeShea Townsend are also considered candidates for that spot, and there could well be (and probably are) others in the mix.

On to recruiting…

I posted a story this morning on A.J. Jefferson. My gut feeling is he’s Ole Miss’ to lose, though I’m not sure why I think that. His teammate, Vernon Butler, is likely headed to Louisiana Tech, per Jefferson.

Ole Miss is worried about I’tavius Mathers, who is getting new interest from Alabama and Auburn along with a strong, strong push from South Carolina. Nix has a good relationship with Mathers, so that should help, but there seems to be justification for the concern. Running back recruiting is a priority, so look for Ole Miss to intensify efforts to land Memphis’ Sheldon Dawson (who could play on either side of the ball). Ole Miss is also going to give a strong look at Eastern Arizona College running back Tay Willis and appears poised to offer a scholarship to Arizona Western Community College running back Damien Williams, though Williams has already visited Arkansas and has trips planned to Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas Tech next month.

There’s a feeling inside the program that four-star wide receiver Quinshad Davis is really warming up to the prospect of early playing time in Freeze’s system. He’ll visit next month, and he’s emerging as a top target.

As I wrote Wednesday, look for Ole Miss to sign several quarterbacks in this class. The Rebels have a commitment from C.J. Beathard and appear to lead for Jeremy Liggins. They’re bringing Jalen Whitlow in on an official visit and are still working East Carolina commitment Kanler Coker as well.

Chase Parham:

Ole Miss continues to like its position with Long Beach, Miss., linebacker Richie Brown. The Rebels are behind in relationship building with a lot of recruits because of the short time on the job, but the previous relationship with Brown has been key. For at least the moment, LSU doesn't appear to be as hot for Brown, and Tennessee had made a quick push. If you remember, he picked up UT and UGA offers fairly recently. Tennessee, Miss. State and Ole Miss will get January visits -- in that order. As always, you can't discount getting a prospect in last.

For those around during the Ed Orgeron tenure, you'll remember the recruiting style includes casting a wide net early in the process. Freeze has already done so in the state of Georgia, offering a few 2013 targets. One interesting one is LaGrange, Ga., offensive tackle Maurice Swain. The Rebels are the first to offer the 6-foot-6, 305-pound Peach State native. His offer sheet will likely be a long one before it's over, but Ole Miss is first, and that could make somewhat of a difference later. His teammate is early five-star and Alabama commit Reuben Foster. Ole Miss has also offered 2013 defensive end Reginald Carter, but that'll be a tough pull. He already has around 10 BCS offers.

Everybody is talking about Southern Miss hiring Petal head coach Steve Buckley as a major influence in Anthony Alford's recruiting, and while I'm sure it is, Alford is also very good friends with Garren Berry, son of USM baseball coach Scott Berry. That's nothing to overlook.
This post was edited on 12/30 1:06 PM by Neal McCready
 
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