Ole Miss Football: Lane Kiffin nails No.18 recruiting class

Coach Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss football stepped it up once again and nailed it with the No.18 recruiting class in the nation.

The 2020 Ole Miss football season was a pretty good start for head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff. The Rebels were able to accomplish a .500 season and an Outback Bowl Championship win over a very good and top-20 Indiana Hoosiers team. For a first-year SEC head coach and dealing with Covid-19 issues, you have to admit 2020 was a successful season on the field.

Behind the scenes and off the field, Lane Kiffin and his staff were also seeing success. Kiffin recognized deficiencies and made changes in the Ole Miss football program. Kiffin wants Ole Miss to be a champion and they can be. However, it takes changes in staff and recruiting. Kiffin just recently fired his defensive line coach after the regular season and made a new hire. Kiffin also inked a 2021 Ole Miss football recruiting class which landed No.18 in the nation according to 247Sports.

All Aboard

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Is it really any surprise that recruits want to get on the Lane Train? This thing is moving full-speed ahead and Rebels fans can be sure that Kiffin will produce. Despite his coaching history, Kiffin has increased every team he has ever been with. Lane Kiffin is the real deal.

Fast forward from a little over a year ago and Lane Kiffin just signed his first real recruiting class. No.18 for the Ole Miss football recruiting class is never bad. A Top-20 class after your first season is something that dreams are made of.

So here we go. Lane found out just how bad the Ole Miss defense was in 2020. The defense has been horrid for several years, to say the least. Lane Kiffin realizes that fact and recruited for a new defensive transition in Oxford.

Enter The 2021 Class

So the 2021 Ole Miss football recruiting class has been signed and delivered. Of the 26 new signees, there are 15 early enrollees, 10 players who have signed letters of intent, and 1 transfer. Of those 26 new additions to the Ole Miss football roster, there are 12 defensive players. This speaks volumes to the fact that Kiffin is rebuilding a defense.

One of the most amazing aspects of this signing class is the fact of it literally being a national signing class. Of the 26 players signed only 6 are from Mississippi. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Texas boasts 3 apiece. There are 2 signees from each Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Jersey each have 1 signee. This proves Lane Kiffin and his staff can recruit on a national level.

The Recruit List

Already Enrolled

Luke Altmyer, Starkville (Starkville, MS) 6-2 / 190, PRO Q

Hudson Wolfe, Hardin County (Savannah, TN) 6-7 / 240, TE

Tysheem Johnson, Neumann Goretti (Philadelphia, PA) 5-10 / 190, S

Dink Jackson, Eau Gallie (Melbourne, FL) 6-2 / 185, S

Markevious Brown, IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) 6-1 / 170, CB

MJ Daniels, George County (Lucedale, MS) 6-3 / 200, ATH

Kyndrich Breedlove, Pearl-Cohn (Nashville, TN) 5-10.5 / 165, ATH

Isaiah Iton, Hutchinson C.C. (Hutchinson, KS) 6-3 / 295, DT

Jamond Gordon, East Mississippi C.C. (Scooba, MS) 6-4 / 280, DT

Brandon Buckhaulter, Hartfield Academy (Flowood, MS) 6-3 / 220, WR

Qua Davis, Itawamba C.C. (Fulton, MS) 6-1 / 210, WR

Demarko Williams, Westlake (Atlanta, GA) 5-10 / 175, CB

Elijah Sabbatini, Biloxi (Biloxi, MS) 6-1 / 195, S

Trey Washington, Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, AL) 6-0 / 195, CB

Micah Pettus, James Clemens (Madison, AL) 6-8 / 318, OT

Signed Letter of Intent

Tywone Malone, Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) 6-4 / 305, DT

Bralon Brown, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) 6-3 / 190, WR

JJ Henry, McKinney North (McKinney, TX) 5-10 / 165, WR

Jayden Williams, Conway (Conway, AR) 6-5 / 268, OT

Demarcus Smith, Parker (Birmingham, AL) 6-4 / 272, SDE

Jibran Hawkins, Discovery High School (Lawrenceville, GA) 6-3 / 245, SDE

Cedrick Nicely, Gainesville (Gainesville, GA) 6-4 / 305, OT

Taleeq Robbins, Imhotep Institute (Philadelphia, PA) 6-3 / 300, DT

Erick Cade, Braswell (Denton, TX) 6-5.5 / 313, OT

Caden CostaMandeville (Mandeville, LA) 6-1 / 185, K

Transfers

Jahcour Pearson 5-9 / 180, WR, Immediate

When OHT says this is a good class, it’s no joke. The fact that Lane Kiffin and his staff did it in just his first full year as a head coach is tremendous. The great thing about it is that Lane Kiffin wants to rebuild Ole Miss to be a champion. If anybody can do it, the Lane Train can!

So congratulations to coach Lane Kiffin and his staff on a great recruiting class. Just remember, the best is yet to come. Please be sure to check back here or better yet, follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook page for more Ole Miss Rebels news and updates. As always, stay safe and Hotty Toddy!