Ole Miss recruiting has not had a large number of 2018 verbal commitments. However, there is no need to worry just yet. We have the program and the recruits will come.
The Ole Miss Rebels have been successful in the recruiting department. They have been so successful, rival schools have whined and complained about Ole Miss recruiting victories. Seeing the Rebels come up with so many prized commitments has caused frightened schools to assist the NCAA in trying to find something to stop our program.
Rebel fans have gotten used to the parade of early commitments we were getting in past years. However, this year has not been as active. Some fans have begun to get a little anxious about the recruiting. Don’t worry just yet.
Ole Miss has only been able to secure two verbal commitments so far this year. First, Quentin Bivens verbally committed to the Rebels. The 6’3 288 lb. defensive tackle from Wayne County will add to the depth of the defensive line.
Then just earlier this week Blaine Scott from Portsmouth, Ohio verbally agreed to play for the Rebels. The 6’4 310 lb. offensive guard turn down offers from Duke, Michigan State and Arkansas.
Congrats to @blaine_scott54 #hottytoddy pic.twitter.com/D1uQzLYX9A
— Bailey Davis (@bailey1467) May 5, 2017
Ole Miss Rebels Football
Although we know verbal commitments aren’t worth the keystrokes it takes to announce them, it does give you a view into the direction of your recruiting in most cases. However, this year for Ole Miss is a little different.
The slow influx of commitments is simply because of the looming NCAA infractions hearing. Ole Miss has already offered to self impose a bowl ban. This bowl ban will not effect the class being recruited now.
However, the uncertainty of whether there will be a subsequent bowl ban has effected the commitments. Although it seems unlikely that there will be another ban added, the NCAA is not a group known for consistency and fairness.
After it Ends
Once this investigation finally ends, the verbal commitments will return. The reason why there has been a rush to find something nefarious about Ole Miss is because our competition recognizes that the Rebels can recruit. When this thing ends, we will still be able to recruit.
Even during this dark time in our program we have managed to still be in the hunt for some talented players. There are many big name players listing Ole Miss in their final list of schools they are considering for college. Just to give you an example, here are a few receivers who are looking at the Rebels
Players like Al’vonte Woodard from Houston, TX.
https://twitter.com/Vonte_4/status/849396341981708289
Let’s not forget WR Demarcus Gregory from South Carolina.
https://twitter.com/xgrego1463/status/858381045644840961
Then there’s Justyn Ross from Phenix City, AL.
https://twitter.com/_Jross5/status/858110725956542467
Ole Miss recruiting is still drawing interest from some of the nation’s top players. This indicates that the high school players still see Ole Miss as a viable option to get them to the next level. They also believe that Ole Miss can field a consistent winning team.
Once we get over the hump of this NCAA mess, some of these recruits will begin to commit. I’m not saying that the guys listed above will sign with the Rebels, but they are still interested. It lets us know that we will survive this slow time. And possibly flip a few commitments from other teams along the way. Ole Miss recruiting is fine.