Ole Miss football recruiting saw a sudden increase in the 2018 class rankings by inking 14 future Rebels on the opening day of the early signing period. So what’s next?
We’ve saw some surprises for Ole Miss football recruiting on December 20th. Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke and the Rebels coaching staff wasted no time hitting the road after the huge Ole Miss Egg Bowl win. The hard work which the staff put into recruiting showed reward with 14 very good recruits. The Rebels saw their recruiting stock rise suddenly with several flips and they rose to 35th best in the nation.
Ole Hotty Toddy has been profiling each new Rebels player since the early signing period began. Researching these players has shown this Rebels fan just how good this incoming class really is. As good as they are we have all had hopes for more flips and the chance to compliment this class on National Signing Day. As it gets closer and the excitement builds we can expect this class to get even better. Who it will be remains to be seen, however there are more coming.
Who’s Next?
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After December 20 Ole Miss only has two commits who haven’t signed letters of intent with Ole Miss. Deuntra Hyman of Meridian and JaKorey Hawkins of Montgomery, Alabama are still 100% Ole Miss and expected to sign with Ole Miss football on NSD.
According to 247sports.com, Hyman is a 3-star defensive end who has been a hard commit to Ole Miss football recruiting since this past May. Of course, Hyman is also being offered by Florida State, Memphis, Miss State and Tennessee among others.
Hawkins is rated as a 3-star corner-back, who like Hyman, has been a hard commit. Hawkins has been committed to Ole Miss football in October. However, Hawkins is being offered by 23 different schools which include Auburn, Georgia Tech, Minnesota and Missouri.
While players are still jostling for the offers which benefit them the most, there could be more surprises in store for Ole Miss football. Of course there is room on the board in this class for a number of hard targets to finish out strong.
Top Offensive Targets
So far the 2018 Ole Miss football recruiting class is loaded with defensive players. With Hyman and Hawkins both still solid on Ole Miss, there should be a switch in recruiting focus to the offensive side of the ball. Of course, Ole Miss added Matt Corral and suddenly Ole Miss is the popular choice of several other offensive stars.
According to OMSpirit, Long Beach Poly teammate Camren McDonald is a likely signee. McDonald is a 6’4″ 210 lb tight-end who is rated as a 4-star by 247 Composite. Camren McDonald also has offers from USC and Cal. Another player with a Matt Corral connection happens to be his center from the US Army All-American Game. Tyrone Sampson Jr out of Detroit, Michigan is a 6’3″ 295 lb center who is leaning towards Ole Miss because of his relationship with Corral. Sampson Jr also has interest in Michigan State and Indiana.
There are a number of other players who are being targeted by the Rebels coaching staff as late additions as future Rebels. One player which stands out from the official offers which Ole Miss has made thus far. This player is Harold Joiner of Mountain Brook, Alabama who is set for an official visit on January 26th. Joiner is a 6’3″ 218 lb running-back and rated as a 4-star by 247 Composite. Of course, we know how running backs thrive in Phil Longo’s offense. Joiner would be a huge pick-up for the Rebels.
Of course, these are just a few offensive players who would be great pickups for Ole Miss football recruiting. With the focus which has already been placed on defense there are still top-rated prospects on that side of the ball as well.
Top Defensive Targets
Ten of fourteen signees from the early signing period are on the defensive side of the ball. As much as we would expect the focus being turned towards the offense I see us adding a few more defensive players. With the defensive line needs already being addressed I believe we see another defensive tackle in the mix. I also see Ole Miss going hard after another linebacker.
One of those players could be the top-rated outside linebacker Christopher Oats of Cincinnati, Ohio. Oats is listed at 6’4″ and 215 lbs and rated a 4-star by 247 Composite. He is scheduled for his official visit to Ole Miss on January 26th. While the experts see him leaning towards Kentucky his late visit to Oxford just before signing day could be the clincher. Also among his top 5 are Michigan State, Ohio State and Oklahoma.
Why would Ole Miss football recruiting be targeting another defensive tackle? Well this one would be a huge pickup for the Rebels, literally. Noah Jefferson is a 6’6″ 330 lb DT who also plays tight-end at Arizona Western College in the JUCO ranks. Rated a 3-star by 247 Composite, Jefferson is scheduled for his official Ole Miss visit on January 26th.
We know the weekend of January 26th will be a big one for Ole Miss. Some of the top targets are coming to Oxford and this Ole Miss football recruiting staff will be working hard to finish on a strong note.
Finishing Strong
The early signing period showed us a few things about Ole Miss football recruiting. One of the things which has surprised me most about this staff is their ability to close out recruits. They are all very good recruiters. Of course, another thing is this recruiting class is filled with talent. This staff scouted quality players who can contribute on the SEC level immediately. Finally, the whole NCAA fiasco doesn’t seem to have affected this class as bad as many of us thought.
The one thing we know for sure is the fact Matt Luke is trying to finish this class out with a bang. In the wake of self-imposed sanctions each of the players offered and signed will be essential to future Rebels success. When a scholarship means so much you know Luke and company want the best we can have as future Rebels.
At any rate this postseason has been exciting for Ole Miss football recruiting. With the final weeks before the final signing period and National Signing Day sure to get heated Ole Miss fans are hoping the final turns out as good as the early. We may even see a few surprises and even another flip or two. Of course, we know it will be an exciting finish when Ole Miss closes out a few more top-rated recruits. Hotty Toddy!