Ole Miss continued the good news on early signing day, this time with a flip commitment. It was even sweeter, being from their rival, Mississippi State. Four-star linebacker Tyler Lockhart chose Ole Miss live from his high school, Winona.
Lockhart has been committed to the Bulldogs since September, but Ole Miss has constantly pushed him to Oxford. Lane Kiffin and the defensive coordinator finally got their man, whose skills could make him a starter in his freshman season.
Tyler Lockhart makes it official to Ole Miss🏈! @WinonaFootball pic.twitter.com/4MFUMNeMoV
— Avery Hilliard WTVA (@AveryWTVA) December 4, 2024
Another in-state prospect stays in the Sip
Lane Kiffin and his staff have done a good job keeping as much talent in Mississippi as possible. Tyler Lockhart was always staying in the state but decided it would be at Ole Miss rather than Mississippi State.
According to the On3 Industry RankingsLock, Lockhart is the No.16 linebacker in the country and the No.5 player in Mississippi. The Rebels now have five of the top ten recruits from in-state, two of them recent flips.
Lockhart attended the Egg Bowl, which saw Ole Miss beat their rivals for the fourth time in five under Lane Kiffin. It also reduced the Bulldogs to a 2-9 season with zero SEC wins. It's not been said if that was a deciding factor, but it must have been on his mind.
The Ole Miss defense has taken huge strides under DC Pete Golding this season, and it is one of the best in the nation in numerous categories. Several defensive players are set to be first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, another positive for defensive recruits who consider Ole Miss.
Tyler Lockhart looks to be that linebacker mold that Golding likes to use and should be a success in Oxford.