Hugh Freeze and Ole Miss made big waves last year when they signed four five-star recruits, including Robert Nkemdiche, considered the best player in the nation. That gave them the eighth-best recruiting class in the nation last year according to the 247sports composite rankings, good for fourth in the always competitive SEC recruiting hunt.
Ole Miss recruiting 2014: Rebels continue momentum post-Nkemdiche
Ole Miss took the recruiting world by storm last year when they signed the top prospect in the country. How is their class faring this year?
Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE
The Rebels’ 2014 class, while still not quite on the level of last year’s, is still of to quite the start. Ole Miss ranks 12th in the 247sports composite team rankings, good for sixth in the SEC. Their 2014 class already has 21 commitments, including six four-star recruits.
New Rebels
The Rebels got most of their work done early in the recruiting period, and only received two commitments in August. Defensive tackle Chris Williams, a three-star prospect from Sandy Creek (Ga.) High School, committed on the first of the month, while kicker Gary Wunderlich, a two-star prospect from Memphis (Tn.) University School, committed on August 15.
The stars
Roderick Taylor is the top player in Ole Miss’s class. The offensive guard is out of Callaway (Miss.) High School, and is ranked a four-star by the 247sports composite. He is regarded as the second-best guard in the country, and the best player from the state of Mississippi.
C.J. Hampton is another local star committed to the Rebels. The safety is out of Meridian (Miss.) High School, an is ranked a four-star by the 247sports composite. He is ranked as the eighth-best safety in the country, and the second-best player from the state of Mississippi.
Andy Bauer is one of Ole Miss’s top recruits. The offensive tackle out of DeSmet (Mo.) is ranked a four-star prospect by the 247sports composite. He is regarded as one of the seven-best offensive tackles nationally, and the best player from the state of Missouri.
Jeremy Liggins is another top recruit for the Rebels. The athlete out of Northwest Mississippi Community College is ranked a four-star prospect by the 247sports composite. He is ranked as the top athlete in the country among juco players.
Demarqius Gates is another big prospect committed to Ole Miss. The outside linebacker out of Lovejoy (Ga.) High School is ranked a four-star prospect by the 247sports composite. He is considered one of the 26-best outside linebackers nationally.
D.K. Buford is another local star heading to Oxford. The all-purpose back out of Lafayette (Miss.) High School is ranked a four-star prospect by the 247sports composite. He is considered the eighth-best all-purpose back in the country, and the seventh-best player in the state of Mississippi.
Still to come?
Ole Miss is once again shooting for the stars with its 2014 recruiting class.
Illinois linebacker Nyles Morgan, a four-star, seems to be torn between Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. And Ole Miss seems like it is in good shape for Kendarius Webster, a top corner from Georgia. Atlanta safety Nick Glass, a former Georgia commitment, is also giving Ole Miss a long look. Glass is a three-star recruit. And Mississippi defensive lineman Breeland Speaks is another underrated three-star who is high on the Rebls.
