Ole Miss 2017 Recruiting Class Suffers Two Deflections
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Life in Oxford for Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze has not been a cakewalk in 2016. All signs were pointing up after a 10-3 season in 2015 but tough times, big and small, keep finding their way to the football program. The Rebels are now 3-4, 1-3, coming off a tough 38-21 road loss to LSU when two more pieces of bad news came this week with the decommitments of linebacker Willie Gay and defensive end Bryan Jones.
Gay’s change of heart has something to do with his official visit to Michigan. The 6-1.5, 215 pound, athlete committed to the Rebels on June 17 but that has not slowed other top college football programs from trying to lure him away from the Rebels. Despite at least three unofficial visits to Oxford so far this season, a trip to Ann Arbor may have swung him away from Ole Miss for good. Another player in the recruiting battel for Gay is Florida State. The Seminoles are set to host the Starkville High School standout this weekend for the Clemson game.
Jones’ decommitment came on Tuesday, perhaps influenced by Gay’s decision the day before. Jones is one of the more highly sought after recruits in the nation with 30-plus offers on the table. Arkansas, Houston, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Nebraska are just a few of the schools hoping to sway the Louisiana native their way on National Signing Day. Another program that has jumped into the fray since his decommitment extending an offer is Oklahoma.
Jones posted his decision on Twitter:
The Madison Prep standout has taken reported unofficial visits to Arkansas, Florida, camped with Miami and Florida State, with game day visits this season to both Mississippi and Houston.
Ole Miss now has 10 verbal commitments to their 2017 recruiting class. The Rebels 2017 recruiting class is now ranked No. 58 in the nation by Rivals and No. 53 by 247Sports, 12th overall in the SEC.
Ole Miss 2017 Verbal Commitment List (10)
SS AJ Harris, 6-0, 190, Bob Jones HS, Madison, AL
CB Javien Hamilton, 5-10, 170, Jones County JC, Ellisville, MS
CB Jamar Richardson, 5-11.5, 167, Aliceville HS, Aliceville, AL
LB Josh Clarke, 6-3, 220, Riverdale HS, New Orleans, LA
DE Jay Johnson, 6-4, 210, East Mississippi C.C., Scooba, MS
DE Markel Winters, Jones County J.C., Ellisville, MS
OT Ben Brown, 6-6, 285, St. Aloysius HS, Vicksburg, MS
OG Lavante Epson, 6-3, 315, Washington School, Greenville, MS
QB Alex Faniel, 6-5, 225, Glen Allen HS, Glen Allen, VA
ATH/WR D.D. Bowie, 6-1, 200, Morton HS, Morton, MS
Decommitted
CB Devin Rockette, 5-11, 165, Oxford HS, Oxford, MS
DE Rasool Clemons, 6-6, 215, East Mississippi C.C., Scooba, MS
DE Tim Bonner, 6-4, 220, East Mississippi C.C., Scooba, MS
LB Willie Gay, 6-1.5, 215, Starkville HS, Starkville, MS 10-24-16
DE Bryan Jones, 6-5, 240, Madison Prep, Baton Rouge, LA 10-25-16
Photo credit: twitter.com; Willie Gay at Michigan.