Chase Parham and Neal McCready[/B]
Friday, it appears, is going to bring a dose of good news to Ole Miss.
There might be two doses. We're just not sure.
Pulaski (Giles County), Tenn., cornerback Cameron Ordway will announce his decision around 10 a.m., and all signs point toward Ole Miss landing the 5-foot-11, 171-pounder's services. Ordway is a big pick-up for Ole Miss, if it happens, and he's one of the first dominoes to fall after (and perhaps as a result of) Drew Richmond's commitment to the Rebels earlier this month.
Ordway could be joined on the Rebels' commitment list by Brandon, Miss., star defensive lineman Fletcher Adams. I stress the words "could be," as sources close to the situation insist that while Adams is ready to get the process over with and make his commitment public, he knows the pressure is going to be intense. My sources believe Adams will commit to Ole Miss. How much: "I'd be shocked if it's not (Ole Miss)," the source said. "I'd be totally floored."
Adams is going to Baton Rouge this weekend to watch his brother play for Mississippi State.
I hesitate to pour Kool-Aid, for it always ends up tasting awfully sour months later. However, my sources believe things also look good for Ole Miss in its quest for Brookhaven, Miss., linebacker Leo Lewis and Petal, Miss., offensive guard Javon Patterson. Lewis, I'm hearing, will likely go until January before making any sort of decision. Patterson likely won't make a decision until November. Mississippi State remains Ole Miss' primary competition for Lewis. Auburn, according to public and private sources, is the top (and probably only) threat Ole Miss faces for Patterson.
Cedar Hill, Texas, wide receiver DaMarkus Lodge de-committed from Texas A&M this week, not long after a tweet referencing a conversation with Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. The Rebels are in the mix for Lodge, but there is lots of competition. Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma and maybe LSU are in the mix as well. We'll see. It's not believed Ole Miss was the sole reason for the de-commitment. The Rebels are also recruiting Columbia, Mo., wide receiver Alex Ofodile and Aledo, Texas, wide receiver Ryan Newsome. Realistically, both players are headed elsewhere. If Ole Miss can't land one of the above three, the Rebels might not take a receiver this year.
Dumas, Ark., tight end Will Gragg leaned toward Ole Miss for a long time, but he appears to be Arkansas-bound. Give Bret Bielema credit. The Hogs have stepped it up in recruiting these days.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College offensive lineman Martinas Rankin appears to be getting close to a commitment. Sources close to Ole Miss believe it's an Ole Miss-Oklahoma battle. Others believe Mississippi State is in the mix. A source close to it feels good about the Rebels' chances, but the Sooners like their spot as well. Personally, I think it's too close to call yet. Give Ole Miss the slight edge.
Senatobia, Miss., offensive lineman Matt Womack is committed to LSU, but several sources have indicated the Tigers and Womack are cooling on each other a bit - at least in some fashion. Alabama has offered Womack, and Ole Miss is still in communication with him. I'm not sure where Womack ends up, but I'll be surprised if it's Ole Miss.
Ole Miss remains a player for Houston, Texas, defensive tackle Ross Donelly. The former Rice commitment is looking hard at Ole Miss and Stanford. Ole Miss would love to land Birmingham, Ala., defensive lineman Daron Payne, but he's almost certainly going to stay in-state and sign with Alabama or Auburn. The Rebels are still recruiting Yazoo City, Miss., defensive lineman Gabriel Campbell, but he's likely headed to Mississippi State.
Personally, my defensive line bet, if you will, for Ole Miss is on Nashville, Tenn., defensive end Kyle Phillips. He has multiple suitors (Alabama, Tennessee, LSU), but he's friends with Ordway and Richmond and he's hinted to several prospects that Ole Miss has his attention.
Glen St. Mary, Fla., defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson will visit Ole Miss on Oct. 4, and Rebel coaches visited him on Thursday during Ole Miss' bye week. Several sources say the same thing: Florida leads and leads big, and it will take a disaster in Gainesville for him to go elsewhere. Of course, that could happen, and if it does, Ole Miss is clearly a player. As a source said, "It's something to watch."
Memphis, Tenn., linebacker Joshua McMillon is open to being recruited, and he attended Ole Miss' win over Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend. However, he's headed to Tuscaloosa this weekend to see the Crimson Tide entertain Florida. My sources believe he'll ultimately stick with his commitment to Alabama. However, Ole Miss has helped itself and is more in it than the Rebels were before the visit.
Ole Miss is recruiting Columbia, Miss., defensive back Johnathan Abram, but it sounds like things are still in the evaluation stages. Ole Miss' lack of a full complement of scholarships could be an issue here; no one has told me that, but that's my guess.
A name I've heard a little recently in connection with Ole Miss is Houston, Texas, cornerback Holton Hill. Florida, Texas A&M, Oregon and LSU are all major players for the 6-foot-2 Hill, but I keep hearing the Rebels are in the race. We'll try to check on it. Ole Miss is, I continue to hear, in good shape for Auburn commitment/Mississippi Gulf Coast Cornerback Tony Bridges. The rumor that he'll ultimately flip to the Rebels simply won't go away.
Bassfield, Miss., defensive back Jamal Peters will likely take an official visit to Ole Miss at some point, sources say, but the expectation is he'll end up at Mississippi State or LSU. His mother, per a source, is simply not keen on the idea of his signing with and enrolling at Ole Miss.
Another couple of names to keep an eye on are Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College defensive tackle Demond Tucker and Jackson, Miss., offensive lineman/Mississippi State commitment Tommy Champion. Unless things change, however, neither will be on Ole Miss' signing day list in February.
Ole Miss continues to keep an eye on former Alabama signee Brandon Hill. The offensive lineman is at JUCO and reported overweight, but signs from his first action are that if he can slim down the feet and ability is certainly there.
As we've been telling you for a while, much of Ole Miss' recruiting focus has turned to 2016. I published a story late Wednesday on Brownsville, Tenn., defensive end Emmit Gooden, who named Ole Miss his leader following his visit to Oxford last weekend. He'll visit Ohio State and Tennessee (and Ole Miss again) in the coming weeks.
Memphis, Tenn., safety Donte' Vaughn visited Ole Miss last weekend as well, and the Rebels are a major factor. The early favorite appears to be Tennessee, but there's a lot of time left.
Ole Miss appears to be in very good shape for Nashville, Tenn., four-star Class of 2016 linebacker Daniel Bituli. He's close friends with '15 offensive lineman Alex Givens, who committed to Ole Miss last week. Cookeville, Tenn., four-star tight end Gabe Angel has been a frequent visitor to Ole Miss the past couple of years, and sources close to the Rebels' program really like Ole Miss' chances. Angel, one source said, could impact Ole Miss' offense much like Evan Engram did and does.
Hattieburg (Oak Grove), Miss., four-star wide receiver Jordan Duncan was at Ole Miss last weekend. He had a great trip, per sources, and Ole Miss loves its present position. Mississippi State will be a major player for Duncan as well. Again, it's way too early to call.
Other 2016 names to keep an eye on include Laurel, Miss., tight end Octavious Cooley and quarterback Keon Howard; Hollandale, Miss., athlete Nero Nelson; Bassfield, Miss., defensive lineman Jerome Johnson; D'Iberville, Miss., defensive back Jaquelle Green; and Macon, Miss., defensive end Jeffery Simmons.
Nelson was once close to committing to Ole Miss. He's backed off a bit, but Ole Miss still leads. He's likely a cornerback at the college level. Johnson is close to A.J. Moore and C.J. Moore, both playing as freshmen this year at Ole Miss. Simmons is likely leaning to Mississippi State, sources indicate, but Ole Miss loves his potential.
BASKETBALL
On to basketball, where Ole Miss is getting ready to entertain some visitors over the next few weeks. Mableton, Ga., point guard Ty Hudson, a 6-foot-1 left-hander, will visit on Oct. 3-5. Hudson is down to Ole Miss and Clemson, per sources.
He will be joined in Oxford much of that weekend by Indianapolis 2016 guard Kyle Guy. The 6-foot-2 Guy, ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 60 prospect in the country in the 2016 class, will be at Ole Miss' first official practice on Oct. 3 and then he'll check out the campus --- and the Rebels' football game with Alabama --- the following day. Ole Miss has an in with Guy. Guy's father is from Cincinnati and has a strong affection for some of the Bob Huggins UC teams, clubs that featured Andy Kennedy as a top assistant.
Memphis forward Micah Thomas visited Ole Miss unofficially last weekend and the trip went great, per sources. Ole Miss feels like the 2016 prospect is an elite talent, per sources, and there's a sense that the Rebels have a real shot. Interestingly, Guy and Thomas played together at an Adidas camp in Chicago over the summer.
One of Thomas' AAU teammates, 6-6 lefty forward Clayton Hughes, will be in Oxford Sept. 27. Hughes has offers from Mississippi State and Ole Miss. He's one of Ole Miss' top wing targets.
Kennedy and Ole Miss assistant Todd Abernethy were in Indiana recently visiting Guy and 6-foot-10 Indianapolis product Joey Brunk. Brunk has offers from Big Ten powers Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue and Northwestern, but he's excited about checking out the South and an SEC school. He'll be in Oxford Oct. 19 when the Rebels' football team entertains Tennessee.
This post was edited on 9/19 8:19 AM by Chase Parham
Friday, it appears, is going to bring a dose of good news to Ole Miss.
There might be two doses. We're just not sure.
Pulaski (Giles County), Tenn., cornerback Cameron Ordway will announce his decision around 10 a.m., and all signs point toward Ole Miss landing the 5-foot-11, 171-pounder's services. Ordway is a big pick-up for Ole Miss, if it happens, and he's one of the first dominoes to fall after (and perhaps as a result of) Drew Richmond's commitment to the Rebels earlier this month.
Ordway could be joined on the Rebels' commitment list by Brandon, Miss., star defensive lineman Fletcher Adams. I stress the words "could be," as sources close to the situation insist that while Adams is ready to get the process over with and make his commitment public, he knows the pressure is going to be intense. My sources believe Adams will commit to Ole Miss. How much: "I'd be shocked if it's not (Ole Miss)," the source said. "I'd be totally floored."
Adams is going to Baton Rouge this weekend to watch his brother play for Mississippi State.
I hesitate to pour Kool-Aid, for it always ends up tasting awfully sour months later. However, my sources believe things also look good for Ole Miss in its quest for Brookhaven, Miss., linebacker Leo Lewis and Petal, Miss., offensive guard Javon Patterson. Lewis, I'm hearing, will likely go until January before making any sort of decision. Patterson likely won't make a decision until November. Mississippi State remains Ole Miss' primary competition for Lewis. Auburn, according to public and private sources, is the top (and probably only) threat Ole Miss faces for Patterson.
Cedar Hill, Texas, wide receiver DaMarkus Lodge de-committed from Texas A&M this week, not long after a tweet referencing a conversation with Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. The Rebels are in the mix for Lodge, but there is lots of competition. Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma and maybe LSU are in the mix as well. We'll see. It's not believed Ole Miss was the sole reason for the de-commitment. The Rebels are also recruiting Columbia, Mo., wide receiver Alex Ofodile and Aledo, Texas, wide receiver Ryan Newsome. Realistically, both players are headed elsewhere. If Ole Miss can't land one of the above three, the Rebels might not take a receiver this year.
Dumas, Ark., tight end Will Gragg leaned toward Ole Miss for a long time, but he appears to be Arkansas-bound. Give Bret Bielema credit. The Hogs have stepped it up in recruiting these days.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College offensive lineman Martinas Rankin appears to be getting close to a commitment. Sources close to Ole Miss believe it's an Ole Miss-Oklahoma battle. Others believe Mississippi State is in the mix. A source close to it feels good about the Rebels' chances, but the Sooners like their spot as well. Personally, I think it's too close to call yet. Give Ole Miss the slight edge.
Senatobia, Miss., offensive lineman Matt Womack is committed to LSU, but several sources have indicated the Tigers and Womack are cooling on each other a bit - at least in some fashion. Alabama has offered Womack, and Ole Miss is still in communication with him. I'm not sure where Womack ends up, but I'll be surprised if it's Ole Miss.
Ole Miss remains a player for Houston, Texas, defensive tackle Ross Donelly. The former Rice commitment is looking hard at Ole Miss and Stanford. Ole Miss would love to land Birmingham, Ala., defensive lineman Daron Payne, but he's almost certainly going to stay in-state and sign with Alabama or Auburn. The Rebels are still recruiting Yazoo City, Miss., defensive lineman Gabriel Campbell, but he's likely headed to Mississippi State.
Personally, my defensive line bet, if you will, for Ole Miss is on Nashville, Tenn., defensive end Kyle Phillips. He has multiple suitors (Alabama, Tennessee, LSU), but he's friends with Ordway and Richmond and he's hinted to several prospects that Ole Miss has his attention.
Glen St. Mary, Fla., defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson will visit Ole Miss on Oct. 4, and Rebel coaches visited him on Thursday during Ole Miss' bye week. Several sources say the same thing: Florida leads and leads big, and it will take a disaster in Gainesville for him to go elsewhere. Of course, that could happen, and if it does, Ole Miss is clearly a player. As a source said, "It's something to watch."
Memphis, Tenn., linebacker Joshua McMillon is open to being recruited, and he attended Ole Miss' win over Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend. However, he's headed to Tuscaloosa this weekend to see the Crimson Tide entertain Florida. My sources believe he'll ultimately stick with his commitment to Alabama. However, Ole Miss has helped itself and is more in it than the Rebels were before the visit.
Ole Miss is recruiting Columbia, Miss., defensive back Johnathan Abram, but it sounds like things are still in the evaluation stages. Ole Miss' lack of a full complement of scholarships could be an issue here; no one has told me that, but that's my guess.
A name I've heard a little recently in connection with Ole Miss is Houston, Texas, cornerback Holton Hill. Florida, Texas A&M, Oregon and LSU are all major players for the 6-foot-2 Hill, but I keep hearing the Rebels are in the race. We'll try to check on it. Ole Miss is, I continue to hear, in good shape for Auburn commitment/Mississippi Gulf Coast Cornerback Tony Bridges. The rumor that he'll ultimately flip to the Rebels simply won't go away.
Bassfield, Miss., defensive back Jamal Peters will likely take an official visit to Ole Miss at some point, sources say, but the expectation is he'll end up at Mississippi State or LSU. His mother, per a source, is simply not keen on the idea of his signing with and enrolling at Ole Miss.
Another couple of names to keep an eye on are Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College defensive tackle Demond Tucker and Jackson, Miss., offensive lineman/Mississippi State commitment Tommy Champion. Unless things change, however, neither will be on Ole Miss' signing day list in February.
Ole Miss continues to keep an eye on former Alabama signee Brandon Hill. The offensive lineman is at JUCO and reported overweight, but signs from his first action are that if he can slim down the feet and ability is certainly there.
As we've been telling you for a while, much of Ole Miss' recruiting focus has turned to 2016. I published a story late Wednesday on Brownsville, Tenn., defensive end Emmit Gooden, who named Ole Miss his leader following his visit to Oxford last weekend. He'll visit Ohio State and Tennessee (and Ole Miss again) in the coming weeks.
Memphis, Tenn., safety Donte' Vaughn visited Ole Miss last weekend as well, and the Rebels are a major factor. The early favorite appears to be Tennessee, but there's a lot of time left.
Ole Miss appears to be in very good shape for Nashville, Tenn., four-star Class of 2016 linebacker Daniel Bituli. He's close friends with '15 offensive lineman Alex Givens, who committed to Ole Miss last week. Cookeville, Tenn., four-star tight end Gabe Angel has been a frequent visitor to Ole Miss the past couple of years, and sources close to the Rebels' program really like Ole Miss' chances. Angel, one source said, could impact Ole Miss' offense much like Evan Engram did and does.
Hattieburg (Oak Grove), Miss., four-star wide receiver Jordan Duncan was at Ole Miss last weekend. He had a great trip, per sources, and Ole Miss loves its present position. Mississippi State will be a major player for Duncan as well. Again, it's way too early to call.
Other 2016 names to keep an eye on include Laurel, Miss., tight end Octavious Cooley and quarterback Keon Howard; Hollandale, Miss., athlete Nero Nelson; Bassfield, Miss., defensive lineman Jerome Johnson; D'Iberville, Miss., defensive back Jaquelle Green; and Macon, Miss., defensive end Jeffery Simmons.
Nelson was once close to committing to Ole Miss. He's backed off a bit, but Ole Miss still leads. He's likely a cornerback at the college level. Johnson is close to A.J. Moore and C.J. Moore, both playing as freshmen this year at Ole Miss. Simmons is likely leaning to Mississippi State, sources indicate, but Ole Miss loves his potential.
BASKETBALL
On to basketball, where Ole Miss is getting ready to entertain some visitors over the next few weeks. Mableton, Ga., point guard Ty Hudson, a 6-foot-1 left-hander, will visit on Oct. 3-5. Hudson is down to Ole Miss and Clemson, per sources.
He will be joined in Oxford much of that weekend by Indianapolis 2016 guard Kyle Guy. The 6-foot-2 Guy, ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 60 prospect in the country in the 2016 class, will be at Ole Miss' first official practice on Oct. 3 and then he'll check out the campus --- and the Rebels' football game with Alabama --- the following day. Ole Miss has an in with Guy. Guy's father is from Cincinnati and has a strong affection for some of the Bob Huggins UC teams, clubs that featured Andy Kennedy as a top assistant.
Memphis forward Micah Thomas visited Ole Miss unofficially last weekend and the trip went great, per sources. Ole Miss feels like the 2016 prospect is an elite talent, per sources, and there's a sense that the Rebels have a real shot. Interestingly, Guy and Thomas played together at an Adidas camp in Chicago over the summer.
One of Thomas' AAU teammates, 6-6 lefty forward Clayton Hughes, will be in Oxford Sept. 27. Hughes has offers from Mississippi State and Ole Miss. He's one of Ole Miss' top wing targets.
Kennedy and Ole Miss assistant Todd Abernethy were in Indiana recently visiting Guy and 6-foot-10 Indianapolis product Joey Brunk. Brunk has offers from Big Ten powers Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue and Northwestern, but he's excited about checking out the South and an SEC school. He'll be in Oxford Oct. 19 when the Rebels' football team entertains Tennessee.
This post was edited on 9/19 8:19 AM by Chase Parham
