Top Five Uncommitted Class of 2016 Recruits from Mississippi

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Year after year the state of Mississippi is loaded with high school football prospects that will make an impact at the next level, the 2016 recruiting class is no different. Thus far, Ole Miss has done a great job of lining up in-state talent landing Oxford wide receiver DeKaylin Metcalf, North Panola High School running back Justin Connor, Laurel High School tight end Octavious Cooley, and Wayne County defensive tackle Benito Jones, all 4-star recruits.

Last year Mississippi State swept the Magnolia State landing linebackers Leo Lewis, Timothy Washington, and Jamal Peters while also pulling in defensive ends Fletcher Adams and Keith Joseph among others. Many of the top players in the state of Mississippi have already verbally committed but a few remain uncommitted. The remaining few uncommitted recruits could swing the balance of recruiting rankings in the SEC. Ole Miss is near a full class with 20 added but Mississippi State still has a lot of space left with 15 pledged to their 2016 class.

The intrigue is to see where the remaining recruits will commit and if any outside influences can sneak into the state, like Alabama has done with defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (Meridian) *flipped from Alabama to Mississippi State on Sunday, Jan. 17, Florida with safety Quincy Lenton (Meridian), and Arkansas stealing one of the top in-state tight ends in Grayson Gunter (Madison Central).

The following is a list of the top uncommitted players along with offers and potential landing spots coming National Signing Day on Feb. 3.

Top Uncommitted Mississippi Recruits – in no particular order

DE Jeffery Simmons – Macon

SDE 6’3.5”, 275 pounds

Noxubee County

Offers (12): Alabama, Memphis, Ole Miss, LSU, Georgia, Auburn

Official Visits: Tennessee on Nov. 6 and Mississippi State on Jan. 15

One of the top defensive ends in the nation and had the stats to back it up. Finished his senior year with 105 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss, 18.5 sacks, and 21 quarterback hurries. Has the ability to be an immediate impact player if he shows up in the summer in shape.

CB/WR Nigel Knott – Madison

5’11”, 175 pounds

Germantown High School

Offers (28): Alabama, Cal, Florida, Oklahoma, TCU, UCLA, USC, Miami, LSU, Kansas State, Auburn

Official Visits: Oregon on Sept. 18 and Mississippi State on Jan. 15; Knott has taken unofficial visits to both Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Set announcement date in late August but pushed it back in September.

Explosive athlete on both sides of the ball using speed and quickness to make plays. Had two carries for 70 yards with two scores and 10 receptions for 83 yards during his senior year. Was used some on special teams as a returner. Made a name for himself at cornerback coming up with 51 tackles, four pass deflections, and three interceptions returned for 127 yards in 2015. Under Armour All-American Game selection.

WR A.J. Brown – Starkville

6’1”, 220 pounds

Starkville High School

Offers (11): Alabama, USC, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Texas, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State

Official Visits: Alabama on Jan. 15 and Cal on Jan. 22; Brown has been back and forth on unofficial visits between Mississippi State and Alabama numerous times, may have a personal key to the athletic facilities with both programs at this point.

Highly productive wide receiver reaping benefits of being focus of passing attack in high school. Caught 52 passes for 1,019 yards with 16 scores as a junior and topped that performance with 83 receptions for 1,371 yards with 13 scores as a senior. Widely considered a Top 10 receiver in 2016 class. Uses speed and strength well, and has great athleticism.

OT Scott Lashley – West Point

6’6”, 300 pounds

West Point High School

Offers (23): Arkansas, Alabama, LSU, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, UCLA, Auburn – but Ole Miss has not offered.

Official Visits: Mississippi State on Jan. 15 and Oregon on Jan. 22

Solid all-around offensive lineman. Able to dominate at the high school level due to his size and strength. Considered a Top 30 offensive tackle in the 2016 recruiting class. Lots of potential at the next level.

DT Kobe Jones – Starkville

6’4”, 265 pounds

Starkville

Offers (14): Colorado State, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Missouri

Official Visits: Mississippi State Jan. 15, Alabama Jan. 22, and Ole Miss Jan. 29

Productive senior year with 33 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, five pass deflected, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble in 12 games played. A Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl selection. Will have to add a lot of weight to play tackle in the SEC or work on quickness on the outside to play end.

Another “must get” for Dan Mullen with two highly rated players in his backyard, A.J. Brown being the other. Jones has taken numerous visits to MSU but Alabama and Ole Miss are in position to make late pitches that could sway him elsewhere.

Other Top Mississippi Division-I Prospects

OG Javious Bardney, 6’3”, 265 lbs, Callaway HS, Jackson

DE Damion Dickens, 6’3”, 225 lbs, Holmes County, Lexington

DE Korbin Harmon, 6’5”, 235 lbs, Oxford HS, Oxford

DE Drelan Porter, 6’4”, 215 lbs, South Panola HS, Batesville

WR Daniel Crowell, 6’1”, 195 lbs, Meridian HS, Meridian

Who did we miss? Add your thoughts on the top players in the state of Mississippi in the comment section below!

Photo credit: caneswarning.com; Nigel Knott.