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Ole Miss Football: What To Expect From 2018 Early Signing Period

By Daniel Skipper

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: Head Coach Matt Luke of the Mississippi Rebels on the sidelines during a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Salukis 76-41. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: Head Coach Matt Luke of the Mississippi Rebels on the sidelines during a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Salukis 76-41. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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The early signing period for the 2018 Ole Miss football recruiting class is just a day away and we are expecting a great group of new Rebels.

After a rough 2018 season for Ole Miss football the Rebels have still been in the news. With a new defensive coordinator and the search underway for a new offensive coordinator many Rebels fans are wondering just how well the 2018 recruiting class might pan out. The national LOI early signing period begins Wednesday so we don’t have long to wait to see if coach Matt Luke and the Ole Miss staff can pull a good class.

So far we have seen some after effects from the past. However, we have also seen coach Matt Luke excel in recruiting despite the damages done by past coaching and failure to recruit for the defensive side of the ball. The 2018 class is loaded with great defensive talent and potential targets and now Ole Miss has a new DC so how does the early signing period play out for Ole Miss?

Where We Stand

Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss Rebels /

Ole Miss Rebels

This year is a different animal for coach Matt Luke and the Ole Miss staff. Last season we saw the bulk of the Rebels signing class take advantage of the early signing period but it was an entirely different scenario. At this point in 2017 we knew exactly who would be coaching both offensively and defensively and as of now we have no OC.

While we are hopeful about the search for a new OC it could have an adverse effect on recruiting. It is believed by many coach Matt Luke wants to stick with an up-tempo style of offense which would mean the most to many of the offensive recruits we have in the 2018 class.

Current Commit List

We already expected a good class for the 2018 early signing period and now we have had a few changes which may or may not have an effect on the 2018 Ole Miss football recruiting class. As of now the 2018 class stands at 27 hard commits will 11 defensive or special teams players and 16 offensive players.

The 2018 Ole Miss class of recruits currently ranks as the No.19 class in the nation and No.9 class in the SEC. The class is full of talent and so far the commits have remained solid to Ole Miss football and the Rebels staff. The following players are considered hard commits and are expected to sign LOIs with Ole Miss.

  • Jerrion Ealy, RB, 4*
  • Dannis Jackson, WR, 4*
  • Darius Thomas, OT, 4*
  • Jonathan Mingo, WR, 4*
  • Grant Tisdale, DUAL, 4*
  • Sam Williams, OLB/WDE, 4*
  • Patrick Lucas Jr, DT, 3*
  • Jordan Jernigan, WR, 3*
  • Ashanti Cistrunk, OLB, 3*
  • Carter Colquitt, OL, 3*
  • Reece McIntyre, OL, 3*
  • Deantre Prince, CB/ATH, 3*
  • Jonathan Haynes, S, 3*
  • Jalen Jordan, CB, 3*
  • Bryce Ramsey, OL, 3*
  • Jamar Richardson, CB, 3*
  • Nick Broeker, OL, 3*
  • Tavario Standifer, S, 3*
  • Jay Stanley, CB, 3*
  • Caleb Warren, OL, 3*
  • Caleb Etienne, OL, 3*
  • Jeremy James, OL, 3*
  • AJ Finley, RB, 3*
  • Jadon Jackson, WR, 3*
  • Eric Jeffries, OLB, 3*
  • Kinkead Dent, QB, 3*
  • Jarod Conner, RB, 3*

While the list may seem to be a jumble of names there is a lot of talent there and when you breakdown the list by position you can easily see where the focus is for this Ole Miss staff. There are 2 QBs, 2 RBs, 4 WRs and 8 OL. On the defensive side of the ball there are 2 DL, 2 LBs and 6 DBs with 1 special teams player. While this may seem as the focus is on the offense and it may send up red flags we know these players are likely to ink with coach Matt Luke and Ole Miss.

Potential Targets

Naturally as with any year there are significant targets which the Rebels hope to land in Oxford. In 2019 there is no bigger target than Nakobe Dean. Dean is currently the No.1 MLB in the nation and in the crosshairs of every major college football program. Dean accounted for 8 tackles and 1 sack in the MS/AL All-Star Game and threw up THE FIN for what its worth. Dean is also expected by many to sign with BAMA, UGA and LSU. And so we wait.

Next. The GOATS of OLe Miss. dark

So while we wait for the LOIs to come in and we hope for the best we should adjust our expectations relying on the overall status of the Ole Miss football program. Right now we have seen better but we have a coach at the helm who is ALL IN for the Rebels. We’ve seen what Matt Luke is capable of as a recruiter and this class should be no different. I set my expectations on this staff closing with a Top-20 class and we really shouldn’t ask for more. Though still we wait. Hotty Toddy!

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