Ole Miss targeting two 4-star LBs that would bolster Landsharks

Linebacker is a position of need in the 2017 recruiting cycle for Ole Miss. Here are two 4-star linebacker targets that could star for the Landshark defense.

Most of the 2016 Ole Miss football signees have made their way onto campus.  But long before they arrived, the Rebel’s coaching staff had already been hard at work formulating the 2017 class.

With the depth at linebacker already a concern, next year’s main emphasis has been on strengthening that part of the Landshark defense.  In order for the Rebel defense to operate at the pace and speed that Coach Hugh Freeze and Defensive Coordinator Dave Wommack like to play, the Rebels must sign impact players.

In an attempt to do just that, they have set their sights on two outstanding linebacker prospects in the 2017 class. Willie Gay, a native of Starkville, Mississippi, and Joshua Clarke out of Jefferson, Louisiana, are two of the best preps in the class.  Both guys fits a mold that coach Hugh Freeze likes, as they each are athletic and have a nose for the ball.

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Clarke, who stands at 6’3 and 225 pounds, is a four-star, outside linebacker that has Landshark written all over him.  Not only does he have a knack for shedding blocks , he is a violent tackler that would make the Rebel faithful stand on their feet.

Gay, 6’2 215 pounds, is a four-star with better than decent speed and is a sure tackler.  After watching him on tape, it is clear that he is always around the ball.  He’s active against the run and the pass, making him a dual-threat linebacker. During his junior year he collect 84 tackles, six sacks and four interceptions.

With Gay saying earlier this week that he will commit in late July and Clarke announcing on Tuesday that he will be announcing June 13th, the full court press (excuse the mixed metaphor) is on to land these two highly coveted targets.

Having them on the field at the same time would be a significant boost to the future of the Ole Miss defense.  Although the impact of landing these two specific recruits may be felt even more off the field.  This is simply based on where Ole Miss would have to go to win both of these players.

The success of going into in-state rival Mississippi State’s backyard and walking away with a coveted recruit last year was a great coup. The entire Bulldog fan-base lost their collective minds when Freeze was able to snag A. J. Brown right from under their noses.  Moves like that are rare in this heated rivalry.  So imagine the fallout if Freeze and company were to do it a second straight year, convincing Willie Gay to leave Starkville and join the Rebels as well.  It could create a pipeline right down the heart of Bulldog country.

On the other hand, very rarely is anyone able to go into Louisiana and walk out with a talent like Josh Clarke. However, it seems there is a chance that Ole Miss can do just that.  Though LSU has yet to make their run heavy on him, it would benefit Ole Miss to lock him in early.

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Normally when it comes to Bayou country, whomever LSU wants, they get. In the 2016 class the Tigers signed Rashard Lawrence, Willie Allen, Kristian Fulton, Michael Divinity and Devin White, all from Louisiana.  All of those guys were recruited by Ole Miss.

To establish a great relationship with Clarke and potentially take him from Louisiana may help break the stranglehold Les Miles has on the state, and it could possibly open up doors for later recruiting opportunities.