Neal McCready:
There is still work to be done, but Ole Miss has moved into the lead for Brookhaven, Miss., linebacker Leo Lewis. Lewis has visited Oxford twice in the past couple of weeks, and opposing programs are paying the price for negative recruiting done against Ole Miss. Bottom line: Lewis was told things about Ole Miss that didn't prove accurate during his two visits. Alabama isn't out of it yet. Neither is Mississippi State. But Ole Miss likes its chances. Lewis has built relationships with C.J. Hampton and Laquon Treadwell, among others, and the Rebels could seal the deal with Lewis after a visit or two this fall.
There is also work to be done on Jay Johnson and Armani Linton, but there's a sense among sources close to Ole Miss that it's a matter of time before the two Mississippi State commitments flip to the Rebels. Both players were in Oxford Saturday.
The news is not as good for Ole Miss on Jamal Peters. The Bassfield, Miss., product appears to be leaning toward Mississippi State, per sources. LSU and Ole Miss are in the mix, but Peters' mother isn't keen on Ole Miss, and that's a problem for Hugh Freeze and Co.
Petal, Miss., offensive tackle Javon Patterson continues to favor Ole Miss, with Auburn as the primary competition, per sources. Mississippi State is working Patterson hard, but the Bulldogs are third at best, per sources.
Mississippi State is in better shape for Jackson, Miss., athlete Malik Dear. In fact, some sources expect Dear will commit to Mississippi State this weekend in Starkville. Ole Miss is still recruiting Dear, but he's not a priority at this point.
Fletcher Adams is. Per sources, if Adams gets to make his own decision, he just might end up at Ole Miss. There is family pressure to go to Mississippi State, where his brother is, but Adams really likes Ole Miss, Alabama and Georgia. There could be some late drama involved with his recruiting. Ole Miss is very much a factor.
Ole Miss is still recruiting Adams' teammate at Brandon, quarterback Gardner Minshew, but there are concerns about his speed or lack thereof. Minshew will camp at Ole Miss this summer. It'll be a critical workout for him.
Ole Miss is still recruiting Dontea Jones, but the wide receiver the Rebels covet is Texas star DaMarkus Lodge. Lodge is a former teammate of Ole Miss wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo, and Lodge has been very excited about Ole Miss on social media recently. Look for LSU and the Rebels to be very much in the late mix for Lodge.
Ole Miss is the very early leader for Waynesboro, Miss., '16 defensive lineman Benito Jones. He could commit sometime this season, per sources, and he's a major priority for the Rebels. Unless every source is wrong, he'll end up in Oxford. Another '16 prospect, Jackson (Callaway), Miss., offensive guard Javious Bardney, is also very high on Ole Miss and could commit before the end of his junior season, per sources.
Ole Miss sources feel very good about Pine Bluff, Ark., tight end Will Gragg. Gragg is due to come in for his second Ole Miss visit in the past few weeks later this month.
Ole Miss is working to get a visit from Tarpon Springs, Fla., five-star wide receiver George Campbell. He and Treadwell have been friends for a couple of years, and Campbell would like to take an official visit.
The Rebels appear to be working East Mississippi Community College defensive lineman D.J. Jones very hard. He's got offers from everyone. The Rebels are also recruiting Jones' teammate, former Brandon, Miss., standout David Mahaffey. Mahaffey is a center at East Miss. CC.
Chase Parham:
Rivals100 linebacker Leo Lewis made his second trip to Oxford in as many weeks for the Rebels' spring finale on Saturday. Lewis has said publicly that Ole Miss, MSU and Alabama were the teams to focus on, while giving all others a look, as well, and the Rebels have solidified a definite spot at or near the top recently. Actions mean something, and the second visit is telling. From the start most scuttlebutt has focused on MSU and Alabama for Lewis, but Ole Miss is a prime contender. We're a long way from a prediction piece, but I'd probably go red and blue if I had to do one today.
Lewis impressed me a ton at the Hattiesburg Rivals Camp Series stop without even participating. He didn't take reps because of turf toe but showed up early, did all the registration, interviews and then just hung out with analysts and publishers and talked with other prospects all day. He showed a tremendous amount of maturity and had a good eye for talent. He predicted Keenan Barnes and Chris Stamps would have good days, and they definitely did. Lewis reminds me of CJ Johnson in high school. That's certainly a compliment.
The Rebels have done a really nice job with 2016 Wayne County defensive tackle Benito Jones. He was an impressive-looking player in Hattiesburg, and he currently has the three in-state offers, but more are on the way. He's 6-foot but quick twitched and should only get bigger and better.
Byrnes, S.C., receiver Tavin Richardson continues to be high on the Rebels, and the feeling is mutual. He's a legit 6-foot-3 and has a nice offer sheet. Wouldn't be shocked by a rankings increase as it moves along. Current top four is Ole Miss, Kentucky, Louisville and Virginia Tech. Obviously danger here potentially is a South Carolina offer.
Walnut safety Armani Linton continues to show Ole Miss a lot of interest despite being committed to Mississippi State. He told me a few weeks ago he's enjoying the process and keeping options open so as to make the correct decision. This feels like the Rebels will continue to get more and more involved as it goes. If I had to predict a flip, this would probably be the one I'd guess at.
i saw the board talk about Malik Dear. I don't think he could commit to Ole Miss today - for several reasons.
Rivals 250 defensive end Kyle Phillips released a top 10 last night: Alabama Auburn, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Ohio State, LSU, Stanford, Georgia, Florida State, Florida.
There is still work to be done, but Ole Miss has moved into the lead for Brookhaven, Miss., linebacker Leo Lewis. Lewis has visited Oxford twice in the past couple of weeks, and opposing programs are paying the price for negative recruiting done against Ole Miss. Bottom line: Lewis was told things about Ole Miss that didn't prove accurate during his two visits. Alabama isn't out of it yet. Neither is Mississippi State. But Ole Miss likes its chances. Lewis has built relationships with C.J. Hampton and Laquon Treadwell, among others, and the Rebels could seal the deal with Lewis after a visit or two this fall.
There is also work to be done on Jay Johnson and Armani Linton, but there's a sense among sources close to Ole Miss that it's a matter of time before the two Mississippi State commitments flip to the Rebels. Both players were in Oxford Saturday.
The news is not as good for Ole Miss on Jamal Peters. The Bassfield, Miss., product appears to be leaning toward Mississippi State, per sources. LSU and Ole Miss are in the mix, but Peters' mother isn't keen on Ole Miss, and that's a problem for Hugh Freeze and Co.
Petal, Miss., offensive tackle Javon Patterson continues to favor Ole Miss, with Auburn as the primary competition, per sources. Mississippi State is working Patterson hard, but the Bulldogs are third at best, per sources.
Mississippi State is in better shape for Jackson, Miss., athlete Malik Dear. In fact, some sources expect Dear will commit to Mississippi State this weekend in Starkville. Ole Miss is still recruiting Dear, but he's not a priority at this point.
Fletcher Adams is. Per sources, if Adams gets to make his own decision, he just might end up at Ole Miss. There is family pressure to go to Mississippi State, where his brother is, but Adams really likes Ole Miss, Alabama and Georgia. There could be some late drama involved with his recruiting. Ole Miss is very much a factor.
Ole Miss is still recruiting Adams' teammate at Brandon, quarterback Gardner Minshew, but there are concerns about his speed or lack thereof. Minshew will camp at Ole Miss this summer. It'll be a critical workout for him.
Ole Miss is still recruiting Dontea Jones, but the wide receiver the Rebels covet is Texas star DaMarkus Lodge. Lodge is a former teammate of Ole Miss wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo, and Lodge has been very excited about Ole Miss on social media recently. Look for LSU and the Rebels to be very much in the late mix for Lodge.
Ole Miss is the very early leader for Waynesboro, Miss., '16 defensive lineman Benito Jones. He could commit sometime this season, per sources, and he's a major priority for the Rebels. Unless every source is wrong, he'll end up in Oxford. Another '16 prospect, Jackson (Callaway), Miss., offensive guard Javious Bardney, is also very high on Ole Miss and could commit before the end of his junior season, per sources.
Ole Miss sources feel very good about Pine Bluff, Ark., tight end Will Gragg. Gragg is due to come in for his second Ole Miss visit in the past few weeks later this month.
Ole Miss is working to get a visit from Tarpon Springs, Fla., five-star wide receiver George Campbell. He and Treadwell have been friends for a couple of years, and Campbell would like to take an official visit.
The Rebels appear to be working East Mississippi Community College defensive lineman D.J. Jones very hard. He's got offers from everyone. The Rebels are also recruiting Jones' teammate, former Brandon, Miss., standout David Mahaffey. Mahaffey is a center at East Miss. CC.
Chase Parham:
Rivals100 linebacker Leo Lewis made his second trip to Oxford in as many weeks for the Rebels' spring finale on Saturday. Lewis has said publicly that Ole Miss, MSU and Alabama were the teams to focus on, while giving all others a look, as well, and the Rebels have solidified a definite spot at or near the top recently. Actions mean something, and the second visit is telling. From the start most scuttlebutt has focused on MSU and Alabama for Lewis, but Ole Miss is a prime contender. We're a long way from a prediction piece, but I'd probably go red and blue if I had to do one today.
Lewis impressed me a ton at the Hattiesburg Rivals Camp Series stop without even participating. He didn't take reps because of turf toe but showed up early, did all the registration, interviews and then just hung out with analysts and publishers and talked with other prospects all day. He showed a tremendous amount of maturity and had a good eye for talent. He predicted Keenan Barnes and Chris Stamps would have good days, and they definitely did. Lewis reminds me of CJ Johnson in high school. That's certainly a compliment.
The Rebels have done a really nice job with 2016 Wayne County defensive tackle Benito Jones. He was an impressive-looking player in Hattiesburg, and he currently has the three in-state offers, but more are on the way. He's 6-foot but quick twitched and should only get bigger and better.
Byrnes, S.C., receiver Tavin Richardson continues to be high on the Rebels, and the feeling is mutual. He's a legit 6-foot-3 and has a nice offer sheet. Wouldn't be shocked by a rankings increase as it moves along. Current top four is Ole Miss, Kentucky, Louisville and Virginia Tech. Obviously danger here potentially is a South Carolina offer.
Walnut safety Armani Linton continues to show Ole Miss a lot of interest despite being committed to Mississippi State. He told me a few weeks ago he's enjoying the process and keeping options open so as to make the correct decision. This feels like the Rebels will continue to get more and more involved as it goes. If I had to predict a flip, this would probably be the one I'd guess at.
i saw the board talk about Malik Dear. I don't think he could commit to Ole Miss today - for several reasons.
Rivals 250 defensive end Kyle Phillips released a top 10 last night: Alabama Auburn, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Ohio State, LSU, Stanford, Georgia, Florida State, Florida.
