COLUMN: Not my gig, but Ole Miss recruiting is on fire

Ole Miss football recruiting is out of my element.

That’s Zach and Ben’s domain and they do the best job of anyone on this beat in my opinion.

But if you are a Rebel fan, or “fanboy journalist” as some call me, a title I wear with honor for the record, you cannot help but get wrapped up and excited with what Ole Miss football is doing with this cycle of the transfer portal and high school/JUCO players who will sign on the 20th.

Frankly, it’s bordering on remarkable and I’ll explain why.

Forget the rankings. Yes, they “count” but for the purposes of this offering, they are off the table. The rankings simply do not tell the whole story.

Ole Miss is building for a run next season at a position in the College Football Playoffs and also years beyond and to do that they had to address current and future need areas because their player retention off of this year’s 2023 roster has been beyond what anyone expected and all that was really needed was the right identification of recruits, the right strategic management and being very intentional and focused.

Mission accomplished – so far.

Take a look solely at the positions of need and what Ole Miss is doing to this point. They are filling all needs except one – offensive line – and that fight is not over because it is priority one moving forward. It will just call for some patience, maybe until the next portal window opens after spring practice ends or maybe there is someone they will attack during this period – we’ll see, but just know this is the highest priority of needs and it is being addressed.

Let’s talk portal first.

Start with a pair of rush defensive ends – Tennessee’s Baron Brown and Florida’s Princely Umanmielen, both in the 6-5 260 pound range and both older guys who have cut their teeth in the Southeastern Conference, not in a smaller league. Everyone knows the Rebs need rush ends so check and check.

Defensive tackles, you say? As of this writing, we will be surprised if Walter Nolen, 6-4 290 rising junior and Texas A&M transfer, is not swimming toward the Rebel boat.  Another guy, if he comes to Oxford, who has SEC experience and is a proven performer in the defensive trenches.

Next up, linebacker. How does Chris “Pooh” Paul sound to you? Another player coming out of the SEC (Arkansas) who is 6-1 235. To go along with Clemson transfer T.J. Dudley, who will be eligible in 2024, and returning players Suntarine Perkins, Khari Coleman, Ladarius Tennison and Tyler Banks, that room looks better and better.

Defensive backs were also a need for Ole Miss – safety and cornerback.

At corner, the Rebels are adding Illinois’ Tahveon Nicholson, who current Rebels cornerback coach Keynodo Hudson knew from his days at Illinois. The Rebels are in the market for at least one more corner as of this writing and, again, patience is the key word.

At safety, Ole Miss will add Oklahoma transfer Key Lawrence, Indiana transfer Louis Moore and yet another SEC transfer in Tennessee’s Tamarion McDonald. Hard to argue with those pedigrees and the level of competition they have faced in their collegiate careers already.

For good measure, the Rebels will also get an offensive lineman, 6-4 300 Gerquan Scott from Southern Mississippi. He is projected as an offensive guard. Again, one more OL is desired from the portal either now or in the May portal window.

To sign Wednesday, start at wide receiver with JUCO sensation Deion Smith, who began his career at LSU and has every knowing Ole Miss fan drooling to match him with Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, Ayden Williams, et al.

Also, don’t forget JUCO talent Marquis Willis, a 6-3 220-pounder out of Coahoma CC who the Rebel coaches “love.” Wide receiver Noreel White is another 4-star prospect.

We are also hearing there is a strong possibility Ole Miss will land Juice Wells from South Carolina in the portal.

Then there are young defensive linemen Kamarion Franklin, Kamron Beavers, Jeffrey Rush and William Echoles – a 5-star and three 4-star players, respectively. The expectation is for one or two of them – at least – to work into immediate playing time.

Cornerback Cedrick Beavers and safety Tavaris Banks are the other 4-star commitments who will sign on Wednesday.

To say Ole Miss has done an excellent job in recruiting to this point would be a bit of an understatement when you talk about filling the needs that will potentially take the program to the next level.

And everyone, and I mean everyone, joins in the getting the credit.

Lane Kiffin and his staff, Rebel General Manager Austin Thomas, who orchestrated a good bit of this success, The Grove Collective, GC CEO Walker Jones and all Rebels who are a part of GC, take a well-deserved bow.

I’m giving you a standing ovation.

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