Ole Miss continues recruiting success on JUCO Signing Day
The Ole Miss Rebels began the day with the No. 18 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings. Six hours and four JUCO signees later, the Rebels elevated their class all the way up to No. 14 in the nation.
Wednesday’s JUCO signing day proved pivotal for Ole Miss. The Rebels collection of JUCO signees is headlined by four-star defensive tackle D.J. Jones and four-star cornerback Tony Bridges. Both players are considered the No. 1 JUCO prospects at their respective positions, according to 247.
Jones flipped his commitment from Florida State to Ole Miss on Wednesday morning to the surprise of some. He spent last season playing for the two-time defending junior college national champions at East Mississippi Community College.
Although the 6-foot-2, 310-pound menace is a seasoned collegiate with power and ability to spare, his playing time may be limited in 2015 due a crowd of talented players in front of him on the Rebels depth chart. Ole Miss returns both its starting defensive tackles from last season, including former No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche.
Bridges followed through on his commitment to Ole Miss by signing his letter of intent early Wednesday morning. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound corner from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College could have more opportunities to make an impact next season due to the departures of All-American defensive backs Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt.
Former Clemson quarterback and three-star prospect Chad Kelly, a teammate of Jones’ at EMCC, committed to Ole Miss last week and signed with the school Wednesday morning, adding depth to a position that will be wide open entering 2015. Departing senior Bo Wallace started every game under center for the Rebels each of the last three years, but without an established backup in the mix Kelly will certainly be considered as a contender for the starting job in 2015.
Kelly was considered the No. 1 JUCO quarterback prospect in the nation by the 247 rankings.
The Rebels fourth and final JUCO signee is Terry Caldwell, a three-star linebacker from Northwest Mississippi Community College. Caldwell was regarded as the No. 4 JUCO linebacker in America, and he, too, will have a chance to step in right away and make an impact following the departures of senior linebackers Deterrian Shackelford and Serderius Bryant.
The Rebels now have the No. 14 class in the 247 rankings, but that translates to just the seventh-best class in the SEC.