Although it doesn’t seem likely that Ole Miss will climb to No. 1 on signing day, having the best quarterback in the recruiting class, Shea Patterson, will make up for whatever areas the Rebels coaching staff couldn’t cover. Quarterback play is what separates this class from some other top SEC classes. With talent at the other positions equal, Ole Miss will have superior QB play over most of the opponents for the next 3-4 seasons.

Here’s a review of Ole Miss’ signing class with less than three weeks remaining before signing day and a few predictions on where the Rebels could end up in February. We use 247Sports composite team and player rankings:

CURRENT STANDING

National recruiting rank: 6
SEC recruiting rank: 3
No. of commits or signees in class: 20

EXPECTED EARLY ENROLLEES

Shea Patterson, QB, Shreveport, La. (five stars)
Benito Jones, DT, Waynesboro, Miss. (four stars)
Charles Wiley, DE, Stockbridge, Ga. (four stars)
Gabe Angel, TE, Cookeville, Tenn. (four stars)
Greg Eisworth, S, Grand Prairie, Texas (three stars)
Donta Evans, LB, Lawrenceville, Ga. (three stars)
Eli Johnson, OL, Oxford, Miss. (three stars)
Myles Hartsfield, S, East Coast Prep (three stars, PREP)

NOTABLE COMMITS

Gregory Little, OT, Allen, Texas (five stars)
DeKaylin Metcalf, WR, Oxford, Miss. (four stars)
Octavious Cooley, TE, Laurel, Miss. (four stars)

REMAINING PRIMARY TARGETS

Rashaan Gary, DT, Paramus, N.J. (five stars, took official on 11/21)
Mique Juarez, LB, Torrance, Calif. (five stars, took official on 11/21)
Deontay Anderson, S, Manvel, Texas (four stars, official visit on 1/29)

SIGNING DAY PREDICTIONS

If Ole Miss’ 2013 signing class put the program on the map, this class proves that the Rebels have some staying power. Patterson is the QB of the future, Little is the likely left tackle for the next three years and Jones looks like another strong interior defensive linemen. Gary is likely headed to Michigan but Juarez threw up the landshark sign at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and who would be shocked if the Rebels pulled the talented California linebacker?