Ole Miss Football: Could The 2019 Class Fix Linebacker Woes?
Ole Miss Football has a problem. They can’t seem to land top-notch linebacker recruits. This problem has plagued The Ole Miss Football team for as long as I can remember. The 2019 class has the potential to fix that problem.
The class of 2019 in the state of Mississippi is loaded. According to 247sports, Mississippi has 10 four star players in the class of 2019. It’s a huge upgrade from the 2018 class, which only holds 1 four star player. This doesn’t downplay the class of 2018, but more so reaffirms that 2019 will produce much more talent than the magnolia state is accustomed to.
What could really benefit Ole Miss Football in this case, is that two of the 10 four stars, are linebackers. Meet Nakobe Dean and Zach Edwards.
Nakobe Dean
Ole Miss Rebels Football
Nakobe Dean is a four star outside linebacker from Horn Lake, MS. Just entering his junior year of high school, he stands 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds.
Word from Horn Lake is he likes contact and can get sideline to sideline with the best of them. He’s the number 97 player in the nation regardless of position, and sits at the number 7 spot when it comes to all outside linebackers that have been evaluated.
He has already committed to play in the Under Armour All American Game, a game that attracts the most talented players from all across the nation.
Dean is a must get for this staff, at all costs. He plays a position of great need, and is one of the most talented at his position in the entire country.
I personally believe Dean would be a heavy lean if not for the NCAA’s colonoscopy. Dean responded with “I really don’t have a comment” when asked about the situation in Oxford. Unfortunately, Ole Miss does have NCAA problems, so they will have to get the COI meeting out of the way before they are able to make more headway with top recruits. If the Ole Miss football team gets to December with a favorable COI outcome and more wins than losses, then they could be back in the thick of things with the Horn Lake standout.
Zach Edwards
Edwards is the latest superstar to come through Starkville High School. He makes the third 4 star in four years to play for the Jackets, and looks just as promising. Edwards ranks 261 nationally, and is the number 5 inside backer in the country. At 6 foot 3 inches tall, he has a frame that could grow into a field general of sorts at the middle linebacker position.
Ole Miss was Edward’s first D1 scholarship offer, which definitely carries some weight. I feel like it’s is a little too early to predict what happens with this situation. Mississippi State usually gets the players they want out of their own back yard, but Ole Miss has proven in recent history that it is not impossible to convert kids from Starkville to Oxford. This will be a battle until signing day. The COI decision and this seasons win/loss columns will go a long way with this recruitment.
The Wildcard
Transfers happen all the time in the college football world. In high school however, it is not quite as common. Insert Donte Starks, the number 2 overall middle linebacker in the country. This past January Starks transferred from St Martin High School to John Ehret High School near New Orleans. Eight months later, he is headed back to Mississippi to play his junior year of high school football.
https://twitter.com/donte_starks8/status/897905956738215939
Starks could very well be a wild card now that he has returned to Mississippi. Time will tell on this talented backer.
Just Win, Baby
The week of September 11th will be the biggest weekend Ole Miss football has faced, maybe ever. Ole Miss meets with NCAA investigators and the COI panel for what will most definitely be a Judge Judy type hearing.
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That week could very well decide the fate of the football program for the next 5-10 years. On the other hand, winning works. It will light a fire in the coaching staff and will build momentum heading into signing day.
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Although It’s not very likely, but if the Ole Miss football team pulls off a miracle season, it will go a long way in the living room of recruits. It wont fix all the problems, but it may ease some minds enough to send some talent to Oxford. If Ole Miss is able to land just one of these three, it will have been a battle won. Landing two would just be icing on the cake. Hotty Toddy!