NCAA looking into possible Ole Miss recruiting violations

Written by Ryan Wright

News broke Friday that the NCAA is looking into possible recruiting violations at Ole Miss which could bring down the Rebels football program.

Per reports Ole Miss starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil met with NCAA official in Oxford on Friday for three hours looking into violations that the junior had met with agents in anticipation of going pro at the end of the 2015 season.

Interest in Tunsil began after his step father Lindsey Miller let it be known that his stepson had met with agents on the night of Tunsil’s arrest for domestic violence, June 27. Miller told police he was arguing with his wife Desiree Tunsil, Laremy’s mother, about Laremy riding around with sports agents when Tunsil allegedly assaulted him.

If that was the only issue at hand Ole Miss could walk away relatively unscathed but the violations and troubles may run much deeper.

In an interview with The Clarion-Ledger Miller alleges Ole Miss used falsified academic records clearing recruits to play at the collegiate level and gave Tunsil gifts during his recruitment. Per Miller, agents have also given Tunsil clothes, paid for his car insurance, given him cash, and other NCAA violating benefits.

Miller and Tunsil have pressed charges against one another stemming from the domestic violence arrest leading to a messy family situation and a very big problem for Ole Miss in pubic perception and with the NCAA.

Tunsil speaking with NFL certified agents is acceptable by NCAA rules, receiving benefits is not.

Is something rotten going on in Oxford?

Hugh Freeze came to Ole Miss in December of 2011 after one year at Arkansas State where he guided the Red Wolves to a 10-2 record. Previously Freeze had spent two seasons at Lambuth going 8-4 in 2008 and 12-1 in 2009. Freeze’s first recruiting class was the 40th ranked class, per Rivals. That recruiting class had two 4-star players sign their LOI with Ole Miss; defensive end Channing Ward from Aberdeen, Mississippi, and running back I’Tavius Mathers from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The 2013 recruiting class made a huge leap forward climbing to No. 7 in the nation seeing three 5-star recruits head to Oxford; Laremy Tunsil from Lake City, Florida, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell from Crete, Illinois, and defensive end Robert Nkemdiche from Loganville, Georgia.

Nkemdiche’s signing can be explained away, his older brother, linebacker Robert Nkemdiche was part of the Rebel’s 2011 recruiting helping bring his younger brother to campus. Seeing Ole Miss pull top recruits from outside the region started to raise some eyebrows.

The irregularities continue from there, Freeze ended up signing nine 4-star recruits in that same class.

In 2014 Ole Miss started to come back to a perceived realm of realistic recruiting expectations finishing with the No. 19 recruiting class in the nation. This haul did not include a 5-star but did include seven 4-star players.

The class signed in February finished No. 21 in the nation with six 4-star recruits.

In the three years Freeze has been on campus Ole Miss finished with a 7-6 record in 2012, 8-5 in 2013, and 9-4 in 2014. A trend upward but Freeze has not taken the Rebels program to the next level yet giving that

During the Houston Nutt years from December 2008 through 2011, Ole Miss finished ranked No. 18 in recruiting for the 2009 class, No. 18 in 2010, and No. 19 in 2011.

Comparing two different coaches recruiting tactics, especially when it comes to Houston Nutt, is not truly fair for several different reasons but offers a leaping off point. Nutt was one of the worst coaches in college football over signing the max number of recruits of 25 bumping up his numbers year after year.

If one wanted to say Freeze is a better recruiter than Nutt so be it, but Freeze has not landed another 5-star recruit since Tunsil, Treadwell, and Nkemdiche.

A recent history trend shows Ole Miss has consistently recruited fairly well. In 2006, with Ed Orgeron at the helm, the Rebels landed two 5-star players in quarterback Brent Schaffer and defensive tackle Jerrell Powe. That recruiting class finished No. 15 in the nation.

The 2007 class finished ranked No. 27 with six 4-star players and the 2008 class was ranked No. 29 landing one 5-star and two 4-star recruits.

Most of the 4-star players coming into Oxford over the last decade are in-state recruits or players from nearby west Tennessee. Better recruiting coverage can be made into outside areas giving Freeze a potential pass but the allegations seem to be supported by the sudden uptick in landing high-end talent from regions Ole Miss nor Freeze ever had success in before he took over in Oxford.

How deep the NCAA pries into Ole Miss will be an interesting storyline to follow as will be the dynamic back-and-forth battle between Miller and Tunsil be it privately or publically. Little faith goes towards the NCAA on really cracking down on Ole Miss but Miller’s exodus from Tunsil’s inner circle could be enough to shatter Hugh Freeze’s house of cards with the Rebels.

Photo credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports; Laremy Tunsil.