Wide Receiver Recruiting Update

Oct 15, 2011; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Donte Moncrief (12) goes up for a pass over Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back DeQuan Menzie (24) during the game at Vaught Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Hugh Freeze already has a strong receiving core that features the likes of a potential preseason All-SEC first-teamer in Donte Moncrief, a reliable possession receiver in Vince Sanders, and a deep threat in Ja-Mes Logan. That group got the majority of the touches last season and all three will return in 2013, with some help to boot.

The Rebels received commitments from four potential wide receivers over the summer in Quadarias Mireles, Derrick Jones, Bobby Hill, and Trey Bledsoe. It is likely that both Hill and Bledsoe will play on the defensive side of the ball, but if the Rebels so choose, they could have a pair of viable threats at receiver. Hill played both sides of the ball this season for Colquitt County High School (Moultrie, Ga.), including over 1,000 yards receiving. Bledsoe is an incredible athlete who missed some time with a broken collarbone suffered in practice, but was still able to prove his worth on both sides of the ball.

Mireles is a former Rebel commit who failed to qualify and was forced to take the junior college route. A speedy, elusive receiver, Mireles appears destined for success in the screen game. A commitment since May, Mireles is already enrolled at the University and will take part in spring drills.

Jones has been under-the-radar all recruiting season. This could be due in part to the fact that he has been a firm Rebel commitment since June, slamming the door shut to other interested schools. The 6’2 receiver out of Europa, Miss. will not be under the radar for much longer as he looks to make an impact early on. A prototypical deep threat, Jones caught a 41-yard touchdown over Florida State commit Marquez White in the Alabama-Mississippi game. While many Ole Miss pundits have pegged Herbert Moore as the steal of the 2013 recruiting class, it could very well be Jones when everything is said and done.

The Rebels got a lot better on offense this past Thursday with the commitment of five-star wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. An absolute vacuum down the field, Treadwell brings everything to the table. He catches the ball out in front of him or at the highest point, he is as physical as they come, and he is elusive. Like Moncrief, you can put him in any slot on the field and he can make your team better. For the next 3-4 years, he will be the focal point in the opposition’s film room each week.

Just when you think that the Rebels are all set at the position, Freeze & Co. are still in hot pursuit of two more playmaking receivers in Stacy Coley and Quincy Adeboyejo. Coley (Northeast, Oakland Park, Fla.) is a four-star prospect by most services, and is a shot of speed for whichever school he chooses. He has been relatively quiet throughout his recruiting process, but appears to be between Miami, Florida State, Ole Miss, and Cincinnati. He has already visited Miami and FSU, and will head to Oxford this weekend. Coley is able to get to the second level before the safeties even know that he is on the second level. He’ll see a lot of playing time, and early.

The coaching staff appears to feel confident about their chances of landing Coley as the coaches who originally recruited him at Miami and FSU have left for other schools. While there is a good possibility of landing Coley’s signature, Adeboyejo might be an even safer bet on becoming a Rebel. A long-time Texas A&M commit, he recently revoked his pledge and opened his recruitment back up. Moncrief and Treadwell have been persistent with their efforts of trying to land the Texas native. He recently visited Texas Tech and appeared to be less than enthusiastic about his time spent in Lubbock. Erin Hartigan of Scout wrote that Adeboyejo has a “good feeling” about this weekend’s visit to Oxford. He cancelled his trip to UCLA in leu of Ole Miss and a commitment could come as soon as Sunday.

If we all could learn how to pronounce “Nkemdiche”, then “Adeboyejo” might not be so bad. With much of the recruiting talk in Oxford about the defensive line, it could be the receiving core that winds up being the best unit in this class. Whether or not the Rebels land Coley or Adeboyejo, you can bet that Moncrief will have to create some more room at the table.