Ole Miss recruiting fuels program's rise
Even though Ole Miss was a program mentioned in the story on recruiting bumps there’s much more to the Rebels’ recent success in recruiting.
The Rebels’ recruiting class of 2013 turned the SEC and college football in general on its ear. Ole Miss had never really competed with the nation’s top programs for elite recruits.
No one could argue the school had plenty to sell — a beautiful campus, a strong, devoted fan base, top-notch facilities and a charismatic head coach — but Ole Miss was never considered a top destination for the best prospects.
Hugh Freeze has made it a point to change that. Recruiting wasn’t bad under Houston Nutt, but it was kind of stagnant and more times than not Nutt failed to land a program-changer.
Ole Miss recruiting under Houston Nutt:
Year | Ranking | 5-stars | 4-stars |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | 29 | 0 | 4 |
2009* | 19 | 0 | 6 |
2010 | 23 | 0 | 6 |
2011 | 20 | 0 | 5 |
(* the 2009 Ole Miss recruiting class had 37 signees, which forced rule changes for how many players a conference school could sign. ESPN Director of Recruiting Tom Luginbill said at the time that Nutt was trying to recruit a farm system as well.)
Freeze had just two months to put together his first class at Ole Miss but signed the top prospect in the state, defensive end Channing Ward, who worked his way up to five-star status after a dominating three-sack performance in the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game.
Overall the class ranked 47th nationally and 12th in the SEC. It was low on numbers with only 18 signees but there were some bright spots in the class like three-star safety Trae Elston and three-star junior colege quarterback Bo Wallace.
However, Freeze wanted more and needed a class that would put Ole Miss football on the map. The 2013 recruiting class was one that came about with some luck and some controversy.
Freeze was able to land five-star defensive back Tony Conner, one of two five-star prospects in Mississippi that year and he also landed the top junior college prospect, four-star defensive tackle Lavon Hooks, who played a Northeast Mississippi. He also got a last minute surge from four-star offensive lineman Austin Golson, who decommitted from Florida State.
The luck came in the way of defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche. The five-star prospect from Loganville, Ga., had a family tie to Ole Miss. His older brother, Denzel Nkemdiche, was part of the Rebels’ 2011 recruiting class. Originally Ole Miss’ chances were dismissed as Nkemdiche committed to Clemson in the summer of 2012 but most thought that Alabama or Georgia would get the final laugh.
Nkemdiche, however, visited Ole Miss to see his brother in July of 2012 and twice more during the 2012 season. It was then that his brother and his mother, Beverly, made their push for him to commit to the Rebels. As for Clemson, well Beverly Nkemdiche still wanted to be friends.
Look who "finally" accepted my friend request (which was sent last spring) on FB…….the day AFTER NSD. #comical pic.twitter.com/zcpOfNGU
— Coach Jeff Scott (@coach_jeffscott) February 7, 2013
Five-star offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil, a prospect from Lake City, Fla., — just 40 miles north of Gainesville, Fla., shunned the Gators, Alabama and Georgia for Ole Miss behind the recruiting efforts of Chris Kiffin, and five-star wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, from suburban Chicago, committed to the Rebels three weeks before signing day and started the surge.
Since the 2013 class, Ole Miss has established itself as a school to deal with on the recruiting trail. The Rebels are strong with in-state prospects, strong with junior college prospects in-state and aren’t afraid to go after a big fish out of state.
Ole Miss recruiting in the past four years under Freeze.
Year | Ranking | 5-stars | 4-stars |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
2014 | 15 | 0 | 6 |
2015 | 17 | 0 | 7 |
2016 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
With Nkemdiche, Tunsil and Treadwell leaving for the NFL Draft, Ole Miss needed another big class in 2016 and they got it, led by five-star quarterback Shea Patterson.
But can they follow up?
It’s hard to say. The Rebels only have three commitments in the 2017 class and Freeze has some problems he needs to deal with. Controversy can create headlines, but it’s yet to create a recruiting bump.
If Freeze can survive these latest allegations, and that’s a major if, he should find following up the 2016 class a little easier than 2013 because of Patterson. As good as Nkemdiche and Tunsil and Treadwell were, it’s easier to find players that want to play with a top quarterback than a top left tackle.
Nonetheless Ole Miss is in a good spot. The Rebels just had their first 10-win season under Freeze and won the Sugar Bowl. They have beaten Alabama the past two years and are looking at at least four years of top-level quarterback play between Chad Kelly and Patterson.
Things are looking good in Oxford.