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Rebel Links: I’Tavius Mathers has officially transferred to Middle Tennessee

By Dave Bevan

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Last week, Acey Roberts reported for OleHottyToddy.com, that now former Ole Miss running back I’Tavius Mathers will be transferring from Ole Miss. At the time, there was no clarification from Mathers of which school he’d be transferring to. Today, the senior posted a message on his Instagram account that he will be a Blue Raider, adding a photo of Middle Tennessee football gear.

Mathers leaves Ole Miss with 1,061 rushing yards, `141 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Mathers was the Rebels leading rusher in the 2013 season, with 563 yards on 95 carries. But, due to Jaylen Walton and Jordan Wilkins bumping ahead of him in the depth charts, Mathers dropped dramatically to 290 rushing yards on 67 carries the following season.

Even though the Rebels lost Mark Dodson and Mathers in one week, there will not be loss of serious depth at running back. Ole Miss will return Walton, Wilkins, and former four-star Eugene Brazley next season. The Rebels are also projected to sign 2015 four-star commit Eric Swinney on National Signing Day.

Ex-Ole Miss RB I’Tavius Mathers transfer to MTSU – NBCSports.com

"Less than a week after leaving Ole Miss, I’Tavius Mathers has a new football home.. and it’s in his home state, as it turns out.In a posting made to social media Thursday afternoon, Mathers announced that he will continue his playing career at Middle Tennessee State.  Mathers played his high school football in the state of Tennessee before signing with the Rebels three years ago.“I am officially [a] Blue Raider!!!” the running back wrote. “It’s great to come home and play ball for my community. I get to reunite with my lil bro as well. God gave me a second chance and I look forward to taking full advantage of it.”"

Tuesday night, three-star offensive lineman and UGA commit Sage Hardin reported that he received an offer from Ole Miss.  Hardin falls within the top ten offensive linemen in the state of Georgia, but is the only one committed to the Bulldogs within that top ten. Hardin had a lot to say about Ole Miss to AJC.com on Wednesday, and it looks as though he will remain loyal to Georgia.

Ole Miss makes late charge for UGA commit – AJC.com

"“I would have appreciated the offer from Ole Miss earlier,” Hardin told the AJC. “Once Coach Bobo and Coach Friend left, Ole Miss started getting in contact with me again. I wanted to be polite. They were always one of my favorite teams before I committed to Georgia. I had a very strong relationship with Coach Freeze and some of the other coaches. I listened to what they had to say.“They were respectful of my decision. They were saying a lot of ifs — ‘If I was to de-commit’ or ‘If the new OL coach doesn’t like you as much as we do’ … it was just a bunch of possibilities that are highly unlikely to happen. And that’s basically why they extended the offer. They loved the way I played. I think they have a fear that one or two of their offensive linemen might de-commit (from Ole Miss). And I think they just wanted to come back after me with Coach Friend and Coach Bobo leaving.”So will Hardin take an official visit to Ole Miss to listen more to what the Rebels have to say?“I highly doubt it,” he said. “Even if I wanted to visit, I don’t think I would have the time. I just don’t really see it. I mean, I might squeeze in a visit. But I don’t really see it happening. I love Georgia. I really like Coach Schottenheimer, and I’m starting to build a little bit of a relationship with Coach Sale.“Mainly, the reason they (Ole Miss) extended the offer is because I haven’t met any of the new UGA coaches yet. And so they are thinking I might not be as interested in UGA before, and there might be room for me to look at other schools because of the uncertainty. But I’m still 100-percent commit to UGA, and it there’s .01 percent chance of me de-committing. It would take a lot to happen at the University of Georgia for me to not sign there.”"

In other Ole Miss news…

Hall of Famer, Ole Miss great Doug Cunningham dies – The Clarion Ledger

"Ole Miss has lost another of its legendary football players.Doug Cunningham, 69, died Tuesday in Jackson, a day after Jimmy Lear passed.Cunningham was a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, going in last year, and also the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame. Playing tailback, wingback and returning punts and kicks from 1964-66, Cunningham averaged 8.8 yards every time he touched the football.“What impressed me about Doug Cunningham so much was how humble he was,” said former Ole Miss running back Deuce McAllister, who was also inducted with Cunningham into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame last July. “I saw his statistics at Ole Miss and in the NFL. I saw the film of him running. He was one of those guys who played decades ago who could still play today. He was that fast, that good. My condolences to his family. He was a special guy.”"

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