=18pxOle Miss offensive line coach Jake Thornton called and offered 2022 center Mike Gatz a preferred walk-on  Monday morning. The offer was one in which Gatz was extremely pleased to have. Though the 6-3, 290-pound Gatz has two other offers to pair his offer from Ole Miss with, he plans to make a decision quickly. He would like to be enrolled in a four-year college in time to start classes this semester and go through spring practice with his new team."We were actually talking on Twitter the other days," Gatz said of Thornton. "Then we were texting back and forth and today he offered me (a preferred walk-on). I put it on Twitter and it kind of just blew up. We were talking about how Ole Miss needed a center to come in. He said a hard-working guy to come in and compete, and he thinks I can do that, so it's exciting."Gatz earned first-team All-America honors as the center for the College of DuPage (Illinois) last season as a true freshman, leading his team to a junior college national championship. He will have four years to play three full seasons at the college he picks.

 "Ole Miss is definitely on top right now," Gatz said."I was actually talking to Coach Thornton about (a visit) earlier. I think I might be able to come down this weekend. I'm trying to figure something out, because he's out on the road recruiting, too, right now. I'm trying to talk to one of the recruiting coordinators, as well, to see if I can come down there and visit."Then a quick decision will be called for."Yep. A quick turnaround," said Gatz.

 

Dart and Trigg announcement Sat