Early Signing Period Notebook: Ole Miss Hopes for Recruiting Success This Week

College football’s first early signing period begins Wednesday, and Ole Miss will be looking to fill some key positions and make up for past weaknesses.
The period runs from December 20-22 and represents a departure from past practices. Previously, an early signing day allowed JUCO players and early enrollees to sign before the spring semester. With this year’s change, high-school student-athletes who are enrolling in the summer can also sign during this three-day period.
The change means many high-school recruits nationwide will sign their National Letters of Intent months earlier than they could in the past, and schools will be scrambling to get signatures in the next three days.
Due to the NCAA’s recent ruling on recruiting violations in the Rebel football program, Ole Miss will only have 21 scholarships to award for the 2018 season. In this notebook, we will break down, position by position, who the Rebels are looking for and who they already have.

Quarterback:

Current QBs: (Jordan Ta’Amu, Alex Faniel)
Recruits:
Matt Corral:  6-2 : 196 :  4 Star
National Ranking: #60   Pro Style QB: #3   U.S. Army All-American
Long Beach, CA
Primary Recruiter: Phil Longo
Committed to Ole Miss: 12/14/2017
Twitter: @corral_matt
 

Clayton Tune: 6-2.5: 200: 3 Star
National Ranking: #776  Pro Style QB: #32
Carrollton, TX
Visited Ole Miss 12/8/17
Crystal Ball: 57% Ole Miss, 14% Kansas, 14% Texas A&M
Twitter: @claytontune7

 

Running Back:

Current RBs: (D’Vaughn Pennamon, Eric Swinney, D.K. Buford, Isaiah Woullard)
Recruits:
Scottie Phillips: 5-9 : 205 : 3 Star
National Juco Ranking: #41  RB Juco: #1
Ellisville, MS : Jones County J.C
Primary Recruiter: Derrick Nix
Committed to Ole Miss on 7/1/17
Twitter: @scottphill22

Harold Joiner: 6-3 : 218 : 4 Star
National Ranking: #123  RB: #6  U.S. Army All-American
Birmingham, AL
Primary Recruiter: Derrick Nix
Visited Ole Miss 10/21/17 , 11/4/17; Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Crystal Ball: 100% LSU
Twitter: @hkjoiner3

Charles Strong: 6-1 : 220 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #397  RB: #18
Lake Butler, FL
Primary Recruiter: Derrick Nix
Decommitted from Florida State 12/13/17
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Twitter: @charles_strong2

Wide Receivers:

Current WRs:
(A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, DeMarkus Lodge, Braylon Sanders)

Recruits:
Demarcus Gregory: 6-3 : 204 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #484  WR: #80
Duncan, SC
Primary Recruiter: Jacob Peeler
Committed to Ole Miss on 5/28/17
Twitter: @xgrego1463

Marquez Ezzard: 6-1.5 : 213 : 4 Star
National Ranking: #327 ATH: #16
Stockbridge, GA
Primary Recruiter: Jacob Peeler
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Crystal Ball: 82% Florida State, 6% Ole Miss
Twitter: @solid_quez

Jacob Copeland:6-0: 192: 4 Star
National Ranking: #53  WR: #9 Under Armour All-American
Pensacola, FL
Decommitted from Florida 11/25/17
Crystal Ball: 46% Alabama , 4% FSU  
Visited Tennessee: 12/15/17
Twitter: @jcope1era

Malik Heath: 6-3: 205: 4 Star
National Ranking: #183  WR: #34 Under Armour All-American
Jackson, MS
Primary Recruiter: Jacob Peeler
Committed to Mississippi State on 4/16/16
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Twitter: @malik_heath2
 
Elijah Moore: 5-11 : 181 : 4 Star
National Ranking: #197  WR: #38  U.S. Army All-American
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Primary Recruiter: Jacob Peeler
Committed to Georgia on 8/5/17
Jacob Peeler Visited 11/27/17
Twitter: @e_moore03
 

Tight Ends:

Current TEs: (Dawson Knox, Octavious Cooley, Gabe Angel)
Recruit:
Glenn Beal: 6-5 : 250 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #625  TE: #27
New Orleans, LA
Primary Recruiter: Maurice Harris
Crystal Ball: 100% LSU
Twitter: @G_beal
 

Offensive Linemen:

Current O-line:
OC: (Sean Rawlings, Eli Johnson)
OG: (Javon Patterson, Alex Givens, Jordan Sims, Jack DeFoor)
OT: (Greg Little, Tony Gray, Royce Newman, Bryce Matthews, Ben Brown)
Recruits:
Hamilton Hall: 6-5 : 315 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #1364  OT: #123
Atlanta, GA
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Crystal Ball: 100% Mississippi State
Twitter: @hamilton_hall74
 
Tank Jenkins: 6-3 : 325 : 4 Star
National Ranking: #310  OG: #14  Alabama-Mississippi All-Star
Montgomery, AL
Primary Recruiter: Derrick Nix
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Crystal Ball: 80% Louisville, 20% Auburn
Twitter: @malik_heath2
 

Defensive Tackle:

Current DTs: (Josaih Coatney, Benito Jones, Austrian Robinson)
Recruits:
Quentin Bivens: 6-3: 288: 3 Star
National Ranking: #1161  DT# 79  Alabama-Mississippi All-Star
Waynesboro, MS
Primary Recruiter: Freddie Roach
Committed to Ole Miss on 4/29/17
 

Hal Northern: 6-3: 293: 3 Star
National Ranking Juco: #94  DT Juco# 19  
Senatobia, MS: Northwestern Mississippi C.C
Primary Recruiter: Maurice Harris
Committed to Ole Miss on 10/5/17
Twitter: @savageseason9
 

Ka’Darian Hill: 6-1 : 270 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #1002  DT# 72  Alabama-Mississippi All-Star
Eufaula, AL
Primary Recruiter: Derrick Nix
Committed to Ole Miss on 6/5/17
Twitter: @grindkd_55
 
Jalen Cunningham: 6-6: 345: 3 Star
National Ranking: #534  DT# 39  Offense-Defense All-American Bowl Team
Odenville, AL
Primary Recruiter: Freddie Roach
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Crystal Ball: 77% Ole Miss, 15% Alabama
Twitter: @cunno55
 
Noah Jefferson: 6-6: 330: 3 Star
National Ranking Juco: #19  DT Juco# 7  
Las Vegas, NV : Arizona Western College
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Top 4 (via twitter) : (Florida, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Louisville)
Twitter: @noahjefferson_
 
Devin Winters: 6-4: 245: 3 Star
National Ranking: #2113 DT# 143  
New Orleans, LA
Primary Recruiter: Bradley Peveto
Ole Miss Visited on 12/10/17
Twitter: @_duke10
 

Defensive Ends:

Current DEs:
(Breeland Speaks, Ryder Anderson, Victor Evans, Qaadir Sheppard, Charles Wiley, Markel Winters)
Recruits:
Deuntra Hyman: 6-3 : 230 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #514  WDE: #28  
Meridian, MS
Committed to Ole Miss on 5/27/17
Twitter: @deuntrahyman
 
James Williams: 6-5 : 285 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #448  SDE: #19  Offense-Defense All-American Bowl Team
Jackson, MS
Top 6 (via Twitter) : (Alabama, LSU, UGA, Louisville, Ole Miss, Mississippi State)
Crystal Ball: 67% Miss St. , 22% OM
Twitter: @_bigjames3
 
Fabien Lovett: 6-3 : 285 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #719  SDE: #28  
Olive Branch, MS
Committed to Mississippi State on 8/18/17
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Twitter: @fabo_54
 
Dorian Gerald: 6-3 : 260 : 4 Star
National Ranking Juco: #17  SDE Juco: #1  
Florence, SC : College of the Canyons
Decommitted from Tennessee 11/12/17
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit in January
(Via Twitter) : Florida, Tennessee, Ole Miss in Running
Twitter: @topnotchdg
 

Linebackers:

Current LBs:
Outside LB: (Josh Clarke, Brenden Williams, Willie Hibbler)
Inside LB: (Mohamed Sango, Donta Evans, Detric Bing-Dukes)
Star: (Cam Ordway)
Recruits:
Jacquez Jones: 6-0.5 : 215 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #707  OLB: #43  Alabama-Mississippi All-Star
Tuscaloosa, AL
Primary Recruiter: Freddie Roach
Committed to Ole Miss on 9/8/17
Twitter: @ESPN_Jac
 
Jonathan Hess: 6-5 : 215 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #1379  OLB: #93  Offense-Defense All-American Bowl Team
Birmingham, AL
Primary Recruiter: Derrick Nix
Committed to Ole Miss on 6/21/17
Twitter: @jhess7
 
Vernon Dasher: 6-3 : 205 : 3 Star
National Ranking: NR  OLB: NR
Baxley, GA : Coffeyville C.C.
Primary Recruiter: Freddie Roach
Ole Miss Visit 12/15/17
Twitter: @sosaa13
UPDATE: Dasher also was ranked a 3 star by 247 Tuesday and has been named the #5 Juco OLB

Kevontae’ Ruggs: 6-4 : 190 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #494  OLB: #32  Alabama-Mississippi All-Star
Montgomery, AL
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/18/18
Twitter: @rip_lamexico
 
Davion Taylor: 6-2 : 215 : 4 Star
National Ranking Juco: #16  OLB Juco: #1  
Clarksdale, MS : Coahoma C.C
Committed to the University of Colorado
Ole Miss Visit 12/1/17
Twitter: @daviontaylot
UPDATE: Per David Johnson OM Spirit, Taylor will confirm his commitment to Colorado Wednesday.

Chris Oats: 6-4 : 215 : 4 Star
National Ranking: #315 OLB: #23  
Cincinnati, OH
Primary Recruiter: Bradley Dale Peveto
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Crystal Ball: 44% Kentucky, 17% Ohio State, 17% Ole Miss
Twitter: @christopheroats
 
Jaylen Moody: 6-2 : 225 : NR
National Ranking: NR ILB: NR  
Conway, SC
Primary Recruiter: Bradley Dale Peveto
Ole Miss offered on 12/16/18
Twitter: @jaylenmoody42

Lorenzo McCaskill: 6-2 : 200 : 3 Star
National Ranking: 1362  OLB: 91
Southfield, MI : Holmes C.C.
Ole Miss offered 12/19/17
Twitter: @bhadda

Lakia Henry: 6-2 : 230
National Ranking: NR
Vidalia, GA : Dodge City C.C.
Ole Miss offered 12/19/17
Twitter: @lakia_henry_4
UPDATE: Ole Miss is set to sign two JUCO linebackers on Wednesday. The three options are Vernon Dasher, Lakia Henry and Lorenzo McCaskill.

Safety:

Current S: (Zedrick Woods, C.J. Moore, Jaylon Jones, Kam White)
Recruits:
Cameron White: 6-1 : 185 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #795  S: #58  Alabama-Mississippi All-Star
Madison, MS
Primary Recruiter: Jason Jones
Committed to Ole Miss on 12/8/17
Twitter: @cam_white25
 
Cam’ron Jones: 6-0 : 200 : 4 Star
National Ranking: #298  S: #25  
Mansfield, TX
Primary Recruiter: Jason Jones
Decommitted from UCLA
Ole Miss Scheduled Visit 1/26/18
Crystal Ball: 87% Nebraska , 7% Ole Miss
Twitter: @camgonework15
 

Cornerbacks:

Current CBs: (Miles Hartsfield, Javien Hamilton, D.D. Bowie, Ken Webster)
Recruits:

JaKorey Hawkins: 5-11 : 187 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #1040  CB: #91  Alabama-Mississippi All-Star
Montgomery, AL
Committed to Ole Miss on 10/25/17
Twitter: @_Jhawk_15
 

Keidron Smith: 6-2 : 180 : 3 Star
National Ranking: #1195  CB: #103
West Palm Beach, FL
Committed to Ole Miss on 11/26/17
Twitter: @keidrons
 

Scheduled January Visits:

Jan 1/18

• Kevontae’ Ruggs 3 Star OLB

Jan 1/19

• Fabien Lovett 3 Star DE

Jan 1/26

• Charles Strong 3 Star RB
• Jalen Cunningham 3 Star DT
• Malik Heath 4 Star WR
• Christopher Oats 4 Star OLB
• Harold Joiner 4 Star RB
• Kenny Gainwell 3 Star ATH
• Tank Jenkins 4 Star OG
• Hamilton Hall 3 Star OT
• Noah Jefferson 3 Star DT
• Cam’ron Jones 4 Star S
• Marquez Ezzard 4 Star WR

Sometime in January

• Dorian Gerald 4 Star DE

Final Predictions (21 Scholarships)

Early Signing Period (14):

• Demarcus Gregory (Early Enrollee)
• Scottie Phillips (Early Enrollee)
• Matt Corral (Early Enrollee)
• Cam White
• Hal Northern (Early Enrollee)
• Keidron Smith
• Jacquez Jones
• Jonathan Hess
• KD Hill
• Quentin Bivens
• Jalen Cunningham
• Vernon Dasher (Early Enrollee)
• Elijah Moore (Flip from UGA)

National Signing Day (7):

• Deuntra Hyman
• Marquez Ezzard
• Fabien Lovett (Flip Miss St)
• Cam’ron Jones (Flip UCLA)
• Charles Strong (Flip FSU)
• Dorian Gerald (Flip Tenn)
• Kevontae’ Ruggs

 

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Nick Bushart is an intern for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at nabushar@go.olemiss.edu.
For more questions or comments email us at hottytoddynews@gmail.com.