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Ole Miss has done a wonderful job recruiting in recent years. It’s the biggest reason why the program is on the rise with coach Hugh Freeze.
But the Rebels also have had their fair share of recruiting misses.
The biggest miss since 2010 was DT Wayne Dorsey. The mammoth 6-foot-8, 255-pound Dorsey was the top junior-college transfer in his class. Dorsey was also the top recruit Ole Miss landed in the 2010 class. Injuries, though, derailed his career as he only made 10 starts in two seasons.
The following year, the Rebels missed again on a top recruit — WR Nickolas Brassell, who was part of the same recruiting class as current NFL stars Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Sammy Watkins, and Kelvin Benjamin.
Brassell had all the looks of an elite receiver. He made 24 receptions for 336 yards and two touchdowns his freshmen season. But he had academic problems, and had to leave school after his freshmen year.
He went to a community college in an attempt to return to Ole Miss, and he was actually a part of the 2013 recruiting class. Despite his efforts, Brassell never returned to the field. Fellow 2011 recruit Donte Moncrief became Ole Miss’ star at the position. Moncrief now plays for the Indianapolis Colts.
The Rebels’ last big recruiting miss was four-star RB I’Tavius Mathers, who showed glimpses of developing into an elite running back, averaging 7.7 and 5.9 yards per carry, respectively, as a freshmen and sophomore. But in his junior season, Mathers was limited to just 67 attempts and his average dropped to 4.3.
Presumably frustrated by his playing time, Mathers transferred to Middle Tennessee State and sat out the 2015 season.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
