A Look Beyond the Stars for Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss
National Signing Day 2016 was a banner day for Hugh Freeze and the Ole Miss football team.
It reminded many Rebel fans of National Signing Day 2013. Multiple five-stars cast their lot with the Rebels and ESPN’s coverage from Oxford only heightened the excitement.
Such as it was in 2013, multiple players that ranked at the top of their position were on the board. Like each of Freeze’s classes, there were 4-stars aplenty. But today, I want to take a deeper look at the three-start recruits that have signed with Ole Miss in the Freeze era.
By taking a look at these guys we can really get a judgement of just how good Freeze and his staff are with evaluations. This should also give us an idea of just how deep each class has been under Freeze. Sure, he has done a great job of attracting big fish to Oxford, but how has done when it comes to hooking the right fish.
I used the 247Sports composite rankings as to get an accurate judge of how each recruiting site felt about each players. Also this just includes the 2013-2016 classes. These are the classes Freeze has started and finished. He simply put a cap on the 2012 class, a nice one with five-star Channing Ward, sure, but that wasn’t fully his class. And obviously the 2017 class is just getting started, though it’s off to a promising start with 4-star DD Bowie, 3-star Markel Winters and 3-star legacy Ben Brown.
Take a look at the 2013 list of signees.
Notables:
The staff’s evaluation of Evan Engram was paramount to the ’13 class. Freeze and company have stated in the past they had Engram as a five-star on their board. He has contribute in some big moments in his time in Oxford. He provided a big boost for the offense when he decided to return for his senior season.
Quincy Adeboyejo’s speed has proven to be lethal in Freeze’s system. When you combine that with his size you get a guy who will make plays down the field. And of course, the Rebels might not have taken down Alabama for a second straight season if he doesn’t make that circus catch in Tuscaloosa last year. He will be a veteran leader of the receiving corps next season.
Specialists usually aren’t ranked highly, but Will Gleeson was certainly a solid two-star find. He comes from a proven kicking program in Australia. At times he has been fantastic, but if he can find consistency going forward he could be a real weapon.
Don’t forget about:
After making an impact at corner his freshman season Derrick Jones hasn’t managed to make quite that sort of impact since being moved back to receiver. He was the talk of camp last offseason and his speed could certainly help him make some big plays in 2016.
Herbert Moore has waited his turn behind some talented defensive tackles since arriving at Ole Miss. He also lost a season because of injury. Big Herb is more likely to make an impact before his career is over than not.
Take a look at the 2014 signing class.
Notables:
Though he was a three-star Kendarius Webster was highly coveted. Since arriving in Oxford he has been much more than solid. Defensive coordinator Dave Wommack even called him the team’s best corner prior to the 2015 season.
Marquis Haynes was headed to North Carolina out of Fork Union Military until he had a hold up with admissions. Freeze and company loved him because of his track speed in a defensive end’s body. He was perhaps the Rebels’ best pass rusher the moment he stepped on campus and has made great strides towards being a complete defensive end. He’s also owned the weekly SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week award.
Early in his recruitment Demarquis Gates was rated four stars by Rivals. No one came on stronger last season, especially down the stretch than Gates. He will be the leader at a thin spot for Ole Miss next season and has to make Wommack feel much better about his linebacker situation.
While Laremy Tunsil sat the first seven games of 2015, no two guys were more important than Fahn Cooper and Sean Rawlings. Both were three-star prospects in the 2014 class. Rawlings will be a fixture on the offensive line going forward as he can play center or tackle. Cooper is looking forward to the NFL combine and the draft shortly thereafter. His ability to shift to left tackle last season saved the Rebels from losing a few games.
Not only has Gary Wunderlich been a more-than-reliable placekicker in his two seasons but he’s filled in at punter at times and provided things there that Gleeson has not.
Don’t forget about:
Akeem Judd was the best option at running back for Ole Miss from the Auburn game on in 2015. So expect a big season for him this Fall as more carries should be coming his way with the departure of Jaylen Walton.
The Rebels were thin at the guard spot after Rod Taylor injured himself in a locker room incident prior to last season. Jordan Sims stepped in and held his own on many occasions. He looks like a solid interior option for the offensive line going forward.
While Jeremy Liggins may never make a huge impact at Ole Miss, he has certainly given effort and versatility. Freeze identified his future at offensive line some time ago, but need at tight end forced him into playing time there. He will finish out his career next season as a tackle and Freeze feels he has a bright future at the position.
The Moore twins, AJ and CJ, have certainly added a spark with their infectious personalities, but next season could see their play start to add the spark. With more snaps at husky AJ could prove to be a major playmaker. While more opportunity at safety could allow CJ to shine as well. Both of those guys have speed to burn.
Here is the 2015 signing class.
Notables:
Look no further for a notable three-star from this class than Chad Kelly. While most of the three-stars they signed in 2015 redshirted last season, Kelly was leading the Rebels offense. He lead them all the way to New Orleans for their first Sugar Bowl appearance since the 1969-1970 season. With Kelly returning for his senior season the Rebels will be billed as contenders in the SEC all offseason. He is easily the best returning quarterback in the conference.
Defenders Ross Donnelly and Zedrick Woods showed some of what they can be last season. Woods has the skill set to make a great husky. Donnelly had trimmed the bad weight off his frame from high school and should only get better as he adds muscle mass.
Look out for:
Corner will be a place where the defense needs someone to emerge next season. Cam Ordway has great size for the position and showed flashes in 2015 of being great out on the edge.
Linebacker, as previously mentioned, is thin on experienced guys. Terry Caldwell should provide a veteran presence there next season. While Shawn Curtis could surprise and become a name people learn quickly. Caldwell has great speed and athleticism, while Curtis has the size you want in the middle.
Offensive lineman usually take longer to develop so don’t expect it this Fall, but Alex Givens has the size and feet to excel on the edge under the tutelage of Matt Luke.
Check out the touted 2016 class.
What to expect:
Tariqious Tisdale is a guy that was vastly underrated coming out. Likely due to the fact the recruiting services ranked him as a defensive end. He will play linebacker at Ole Miss, at 6’5, but could always move down to the edge of the defensive line if needed. His speed is ridiculous for his size, as he regularly chased down skill guys from behind in high school.
Myles Hartfield could be an early-impact guy at corner. He comes to Ole Miss from a prep school and appears to be game reader after some tuning this Spring and through the offseason.
In time I’m adamant that Eli Johnson will be a dominant force at center. He is strong, quick-footed and smart. What else could you possibly want in a center? A nasty streak, maybe, well, he has that, too.
While the four and five-star guys will always grab the headlines in recruiting, it is often the three-star prospects who develop into the backbone of even the best teams in college football.
Many traits and qualities are often overlooked in high school evaluations. A desire to be great cannot be quantified by stars. Neither can heart or work ethic. It is also hard to peg players who will make leaps, whether physically or mentally, after arriving on a college campus. Some guys react positively to the college environment. Some guys work harder.
Some guys love the challenge of more film study, practice pressure to perform that isn’t there in high school.
Another important aspect is fit. Often times a player that goes to a school or environment that fits them off the field, as well as on the field with scheme and such, it makes all the difference in being a bust and a star.
Freeze and his staff have done a great job of identifying the three-star players who have a chips on their shoulders. They have also done a fantastic job of finding guys who have a desire to be great and who fit into their program on and off the field.
Sure, there are guys that didn’t pan out and left the program, but they have hit on and developed their three-star guys much better than many. That is the reason their journey has progressed much faster than originally planned.