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Ole Miss recruiting primer: Late surge has Kiffin’s class approaching top 15
By Brian Rippee
Published:
Lane Kiffin has generated an incredible amount of momentum on the recruiting trail in the past 14 days as the Early Signing Period approaches this week. With 8 commitments in December, a couple of flips mixed in among them, Ole Miss’ class has vaulted up the rankings from 47th to 18th according to 247 Sports, with a legitimate chance to close as a top 15 class in the country.
Ole Miss still has needs to meet to round out this class and strengthen it into a potential groundbreaking group that will be remembered as a crucial chapter of the Kiffin era. Can they use this newfound momentum to help fill the rest of their needs?
Let’s take a look what they currently have and where they’ll look to improve.
By the numbers
- SEC rank: 7th
- National rank: 18th
- 5-stars: 0
- 4-stars: 5
- 3-stars: 14
Top player: Bralon Brown, 4-star WR
Brown is the highest-rated high school player in this class. He’s a big, physical receiver who committed to the Rebels in April over Auburn and Georgia. With Elijah Moore and tight end Kenny Yeboah both likely moving on to the NFL, Brown’s services are greatly needed if Ole Miss wishes to continue their high level of production on offense in 2021.
Ole Miss also has 2 of the top 3 junior college defensive linemen committed in this class. But Brown has the greatest potential to be a star for the Rebels sooner rather than later.
Class strength: Defensive back
Ole Miss has help on the way as they try to rectify their woeful passing defense. Safeties Tysheem Johnson and Kyndrich Breedlove headline what is probably the strongest area of Kiffin’s 2021 class to this point, with interior defensive line being a close 2nd. The Rebels had the worst passing defense in the SEC in 2019 and are 2nd worst this year, with only LSU behind them.
Georgia transfer Otis Reese was ruled eligible before the Egg Bowl and will essentially be a new player for this defense in 2021, and the Rebels are set to get Deantre Prince back into the program after he left this year for junior college. There are some talented pieces already on the roster who have improved this year, but reinforcements are needed, and this class may provide them.
Class weakness: Linebacker
Depending on whether you classify Dink Jackson as a safety or linebacker, Ole Miss does not currently have a linebacker committed. This is the Rebels’ greatest weakness in this class, and the fates of a couple of guys currently committed elsewhere could drastically shift the trajectory of what is quickly morphing into a strong class. Linebackers will be by far the biggest storyline for the Rebels this week, and how they close on a handful of guys at that position will be fascinating to watch play out.
Grading the QB class
Matt Corral’s success this season has been monumental for Ole Miss’ fortunes not only on the field but on the recruiting trail. Corral will return in 2021, which has bought Kiffin and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby time to find his eventual successor. Former Florida State commit Luke Altmeyer flipped to the Rebels this week and appears to be whom they have in mind to replace Corral, at least for the time being.
Altmeyer, a 4-star prospect and the 13th-rated pro style quarterback according to 247Sports, is a 6-foot-2 pocket passer whose game relies heavily on decision-making and reading the field. He has a quick release and has flashed plus-level accuracy and a strong ability to throw on the run. His footwork and mechanics are polished, and he is known to take risks when improvising on the run. He’s a talented prospect who will get the chance to learn from Corral as a freshman.
Did they close the borders?
Ole Miss is still in the mix for a few guys on the defensive line, linebacker and receiver who could take this class from trending up to a remarkable cornerstone for the foundation Kiffin is trying to build. If the Rebels can land Byron Young, Ty Cooper or Taleeq Robbins, it would drastically improve a defensive line that is currently one of the worst in the SEC.
Keep an eye on Branden Jennings and Junior Colson — both current Michigan commits being recruited hard by Chris Partridge — as well as Trevin Wallace, who is undecided. If the Rebels can add linebacker depth and another receiver or 2, they can consider this 2021 signing class an overwhelming success.
Final thought
Eight commits in December have created a wave of momentum that is ripe for Kiffin and Ole Miss to capitalize on this week. Kiffin has a good chance to land a top-15 class, which given the circumstances surrounding recruiting for the past 6 months is a remarkable feat. This class has the chance to be one that is remembered as the beginning of something significant in Oxford.
