Wednesday served as a day of vindication for Mississippi’s top defensive prospect from the 2017 recruiting cycle as four-star signee Willie Gay expressed his relief that he will be playing his college football in Starkville.

The 2017 U.S. Army All-American Game participant was rated as a Top 100 prospect in the nation and the No. 2 overall player from Mississippi in the latest recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports. Gay had been committed to Ole Miss for four months last year before dropping the Rebels after a visit to Michigan. However, when National Signing Day came, the Starkville native signed with his hometown team over Ole Miss and Michigan.

Here’s a tweet Gay sent immediately after the news of Ole Miss’ 2017 bowl ban was announced.

https://twitter.com/WillieYRN/status/834532203451269121

Don’t be surprised to see the four-star signee contribute right away for the new-look MSU defense next season under first-year coordinator Todd Grantham. Considering the upgrades to the Bulldogs’ defensive staff and the influx of junior college defenders already on campus, joining a promising crop of young talent on the roster, Gay has a very good chance of playing in a bowl game next season.

That’s something he came close to missing out on had he decided to remain committed to Ole Miss.