What to expect for Ole Miss on national signing day

OXFORD — Given the circumstances, it seemed like a long shot for Ole Miss to finish with a strong recruiting class.

A cloud of NCAA uncertainty hovered over the program and hurt its recruiting efforts in this cycle the same way it did in 2017. Hugh Freeze resigned in July, and the interim tag wasn't taken off Matt Luke until late November.

But here, on the eve of national signing day, the Rebels' recruiting class ranks 28th in the 247Sports Composite ratings. That's pretty far from 61st, which is where they stood on the eve of the early signing period in December.

And Wednesday offers Ole Miss the chance to move even further up in those rankings. The commitment of four-star receiver Miles Battle boosted the Rebels into the 20s on Monday night. 

Ole Miss is in the mix for several prospects who could help it improve their standing. Three receivers — Battle, four-star prospect Elijah Moore and three-star prospect Demarcus Gregory — have already picked the Rebels, but they're still in the mix for a couple of others.

Four-star Texas receiver Tommy Bush will decide between Baylor, Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss and Michigan State Wednesday morning. Four-star Georgia wideout Marquez Ezzard will announce his choice between Miami and the Rebels too.

 
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Ole Miss has a need at running back. Jordan Wilkins, who rushed for 1,000 yards in 2017, exhausted his eligibility and D'Vaughn Pennamon suffered a major knee injury in November.

Jones County Junior College running back Scottie Phillips, a three-star running back, signed in December. The Rebels are in the final two, along with Texas A&M, for three-star running back Charles Strong, a Florida native.

Four-star offensive lineman Tank Jenkins visited Ole Miss this past weekend and will make his college destination known Wednesday.

Announcements from three-star safety Joseph Foucha (New Orleans), three-star tight Glenn Beal (New Orleans), and three-star linebackers Jaylen Moody (Conway, South Carolina) and Andrew Parker (New Orleans; Arkansas commit) will be worth watching on Wednesday as well. 

As far as in-state prospects go, Olive Branch defensive end Fabien Lovett, who once was a Mississippi State commit, will publicly announce his decision between the Bulldogs, Ole Miss, and Florida. Pearl standout Tylan Knight is a Louisiana commit but received an offer from the Rebels recently.

The Rebels' immediate needs are on the defensive side, particularly in the front seven. Ole Miss has struggled at linebacker for two seasons and hasn't been able to find consistent answers at the position.

It signed three-star JUCO linebacker Vernon Dasher in December, along with Jacquez Jones and Jonathan Hess. Linebacker Kevontae Ruggs committed to the Rebels a little more than a week ago.

Ole Miss has also loaded up on defensive linemen in this recruiting class. Noah Jefferson, a three-star JUCO defensive tackle, was the most recent commit among them.

The Rebels have received four commitments since the early signing period – Jefferson, Ruggs, Battle, and offensive lineman Hamilton Hall. Three-star defensive back Jakorey Hawkins committed to Ole Miss in October but didn't sign during the early signing period.

In that three-day period, the Rebels signed 15 players, headlined by four-star quarterback Matt Corral, four-star receiver Elijah Moore and three-star Callaway defensive end James Williams. 

Afterward, Luke said he would have eight or nine spots available for the remainder of the recruiting class.

SOURCE:  Morales, Antonio.  "What to expect for Ole Miss on national signing day." The Clarion Ledger, 6 February 2018, https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2018/02/06/what-expect-ole-miss-national-signing-day/310022002/.