2015 Rebel Family: Meet OLB Shawn Curtis

The 2015 National Signing Day is now behind us, and it is now time to evaluate the Ole Miss Miss Rebels signing class. Let’s look past what was missed, because quite frankly there was not a lot missing out of this class. Sure, we missed out an offensive lineman, a linebacker, and one of the best defensive linemen in the nation. But, don’t let that discourage you from the enormous amount of talent that was brought into the program this year. Sit back and relax as we prove to you how good this class really is. Hotty Toddy!

Meet 2015 Ole Miss Rebel signee, Outside Linebacker Shawn Curtis

The Breakdown: Forget the fact that we lost the nation’s No. 1 inside linebacker, Leo Lewis to Mississippi State. I know it is hard to swallow, but the Ole Miss Rebels still have a bright future even without him. Hugh Freeze is a master at recruiting, and if you can find it in your heart to look past the loss opportunities of Richmond and Lewis, you will find that the recruitment of Doral’s Shawn Curtis was nothing less than a masterpiece by Freeze and his staff.

Shawn Curtis is a three-star prospect and arguably has the potiential to be the future of the Ole Miss defense at linebacker. I know what you’re thinking. Lewis was rated inside the ESPN 300 and was the No. 1 rated inside linebacker in the country. Curtis’ rankings don’t even come close to measuring that of Lewis’. In fact, if you go by just his rankings, Curtis is an unknown and is relatively off the map, after being compositely rated as the 142nd linebacker in the country and rated as the 285th prospect in the state of Florida. How can he be compared to the caliber of Lewis?

Lewis has always been heavily recruited, and has been to plenty of showcase camps where his skill sets can be rated, making him an easy target by recruiters. Curtis has not. In fact, Curtis moved away from football in pursuit for a basketball scholarship, and it was just last school year when he got back onto the scene. When I say this kid could possibly be one of the most elite middle linebackers in the SEC, I mean it, I and do not say things like that lightly.

According to his Hudl profile, Curtis stands in at 6 foot – 3 inches and weighs 251 pounds, giving him the perfect size for the position. Curtis also has amazing speed, as he runs a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. That means Curtis has the same size, frame, and comparable speed as that of Lewis. Oh yes, the kid can tackle too. His highlight videos show heavy pursuit, and an amazing ability to pressure the passing game. He sure does force a lot of turnovers and shows he is a play maker in those videos too.

Curtis is also a winner off the field, as he was accepted into West Point. He might not hold a lot big time offers, but receiving offers to Massachusetts, Army, and Holy Cross says a lot about what you are doing academically. Curtis was committed to Pittsburgh all the way into the morning ours of National Signing Day, but chose to play in the SEC for the Rebels at the last minute. His commit came as a surprise addition to the 2015 class. This is a 100% win for Freeze and his staff, and shows our program’s recruitment is right where it needs to be.

Where He Fits In: Last season, Ole Miss loss linebackers D.T. Shackelford, Keith Lewis, and Serderius Bryant due to graduation. Considering all three of them were within the team’s top-ten leading tacklers in the 2014 season, it took a serious toll on the depth at linebacker. The Rebels will return senior linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche, senior Christian Russell, and rising sophomore Demarquis Gates. Nkemdiche fits into the stinger position and hasn’t been a huge factor for the past few seasons due to battling injuries. If Nkemdiche can get healthy in the off-season, it would be great to see him get back to that 2012 status, where he was an All-American and led the team with 82 tackles.

Curtis has the potiential to be an immediate impact player. I see him making appearances at the beginning of the season as a true freshman. Curtis will be on campus and have time to develop under the wing of linebacker coach Dave Wommack, and veterans like Nkemdiche and Russell. Expect to hear his name some in the upcoming season, and in the future, Shawn Curtis could be a common name among SEC linebackers. Don’t be sad that we loss Lewis, but be happy that we gained Curtis.