Ole Miss Football: What’s Next For Ole Miss Recruiting?
With Ole Miss football recently adding their tenth overall verbal commitment from JUCO RB Scott Phillips, many fans are left wondering what’s next?
Although it’s easy to get excited by a Hugh Freeze YAHTZEE! tweet, this recruiting cycle has bothered some Ole Miss football faithful. Many fans have simply had a difficult time with the high number of 3-star commitments. It’s a legitimate concern when we’ve grown used to 4 and 5-star players. However, that’s a byproduct of the looming verdict of the NCAA COI which lies ahead.
Of course, I’ve explained to a number of Ole Miss football fans to just take the time to check the players out. You don’t have to take mine or anybody else’s word for it. Hit up YouTube and watch their highlights. It’s easy to see what Freeze and his staff see in these young men. And of course, by the time the COI delivers their verdict, most of these players will have increased their stock on the field.
The Sky Is Not Falling
Ole Miss Rebels Football
If you go to Scout.com and pull up the 2012 recruiting class you can see for yourself there were some pretty decent 2 and 3-star players who became Rebels.
Mike Hilton, Bo Wallace and Jaylen Walton were just a few of the notable 3-star players. John Youngblood and Cody Core were both 2-stars. Most of those players played for Rebel teams which beat Bama consecutive seasons and won the 2015 Sugar Bowl.
Quality of players will not be an issue for the 2018 recruiting class, however quantity could be. Of course, Ole Miss has already self-imposed a double-digit reduction in available scholarships. That number could be 12, 15 or 20+ by the time the verdict is returned by the COI.
There’s no denying the impact that can have on a football team over the long haul. In the grind of an SEC season with injuries always being an issue, depth can be a significant problem. For now, the problems are distant clouds but they can build on a team quickly. That’s not a storm which we want to weather.
What Needs To Be Filled?
The good thing for Ole Miss football is right now the roster is fairly loaded with experienced players on both sides of the ball. Although Ole Miss is only returning 5 starters on offense and 6 on defense there is experience in the depth charts on both sides of the ball. Also, there has been no mass exodus of players as some pundits had predicted.
It’s obvious from the list of commitments for the 2018 class thus far there has been a major focus on the defensive line. So far six of the seven defensive verbals have been by players who are or will become defensive linemen. The other lone defensive commit was at CB which is another area of need for Ole Miss. I fully expect Freeze and McGriff to go after a couple more defensive players in the secondary and at linebacker.
Ole Miss has only received three offensive commitments so far, however I expect them to put a little more focus and at least a couple more offensive linemen and wide receivers. Some experts seem to think JUCO RB Scott Phillips will be the only RB signed with the 2018 class. I disagree. I can fully expect Freeze and Co to go after at least one more preferably from the high school ranks.
Next: A Great Season Could Help!
Of course, we have no idea how many players will actually sign for the 2018 recruiting class at this point. However, maybe we should all try to be a little more excited and just let Hugh do what we know he can do. He is pretty good on the recruiting trail.