Matt Luke reveals JUCO signee Noah Jefferson fails to qualify, provides injury updates for camp
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College football has officially returned for Ole Miss as the Rebels are set to open fall camp this week in Oxford.
Matt Luke met with the media on Thursday to preview his team heading into his first full season as head coach, and while most of the news he provided was positive, there were a few bits of bad news to share. Starting with junior college signee Noah Jefferson. The 2018 signee from Arizona Western failed to qualify for school and will not be joining the team, Luke revealed.
Jefferson was the No. 20 overall JUCO prospect and No. 8 defensive tackle in the nation for the 2018 recruiting cycle.
On the plus side, Tariqious Tisdale has made it in and will compete for the Rebels in the upcoming season. Tisdale, from Northwest Mississippi Community College, was rated as the No. 7 junior college strongside defensive end in the nation for 2018.
On the injury front, the Rebels will be without running back D’Vaughn Pennamon for an indefinite amount of time. Luke indicated his return would take a while, as he’s rehabbing from a significant injury. Pennamon rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns last season. According to Luke, every other member of the team will be ready to go entering fall camp.
Luke also was asked about the status of the program’s appeal of the 2018 bowl ban.
“We prepare for the worst, and if something else happens, it’s a bonus,” he said. “We just keep our heads down and focus on playing for each other.”
Ole Miss is expecting resolution on the appeal in the coming weeks.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
