Last Friday Night: Highlights and stats from Ole Miss football recruiting commitments and targets
The 2022 high school football season has officially kicked off, and a number of Ole Miss recruiting commitments and targets showed out in their season-opening games.
The Ole Miss Spirit, over the course of the year, will provide a weekly deep-dive, insider’s perspective on top performances, scouting reports, highlights and stats on prospects of Ole Miss interest in our new series, Last Friday Night.
THE COMMITS
4-star QB Marcel Reed
The 6-foot-1, 170 pound Reed faced off against Ravenwood (Tenn.) and Mississippi State commit Chris Parson on Friday in what some called the “Mini-Egg Bowl.”
The Bulldogs are Ole Miss’ bitter in-state rival.
Reed stole the show.
Reed, ranked as the No. 345 player in the 2023 class by the industry-generated On3 Consensus, completed 13 of his 15 for 171 yards and two touchdowns. He also showed off his elusiveness in the pocket and ability to throw off platform and from different angles.
Reed went toe-to-toe with Ravenwood’s defense all night, but his Montgomery Bell Academy (Tenn.) cruised to a 46-20 victory, and while he wasn’t asked to spin it all over the yard, he protected the ball and created with his feet when he needed to.
Next week: Pearl-Cohn (Tenn.), 7pm CT
4-star IOL Brycen Sanders
Sanders, the long-time Ole Miss pledge and On3 Consensus four-star, was part of a potent rushing attack against Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Ga.).
Sanders, the nation’s No. 252 overall recruit, helped pave the way for a 297-yard performance from running back Caleb Hampton.
Baylor School (Tenn.) dominated for most of the contest en route to a fairly comfortable 38-21 win and 1-0 start.
Notably, Sanders has played every position on the offensive line during his prep career. He was consistently mowing down the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee defensive line.
Next week: at Ensworth (Tenn.), 7pm CT
4-star ATH Ahmad Brown
Brown, a 6-foot-1, 195 pound safety that chose Ole Miss over Clemson, was laying the wood last week in Crisp County’s (Ga.) 17-6 win over Dooly County (Ga.).
On defense, Brown, who the On3 Consensus has as the country’s No. 358 overall recruit, finished with two tackles while also chipping in five rushes for 36 yards on offense.
The On3 Consensus is a complete and equally-weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies (On3, 247, Rivals and ESPN).
Brown is the No. 14 athlete and No. 37 prospect in Georgia.
Next week: at Westlake (Ga.), 7:30pm CT
3-star TE Jayvontay Conner
Conner, a big-bodied tight end at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, didn’t get a ton of touches on Friday.
However, Conner, who committed to Ole Miss the last day in July, made his precious-few catches count, including an impressive late-game red-zone snag in a 49-38 win for East Forsyth (N.C.) over Northwest Guilford (N.C.). Conner sits at No. 832 in the On3 Consensus player recruiting rankings.
He’s the No. 25 tight end and the No. 25 player in North Carolina.
Next week: at Rolesville (N.C.), 7pm CT
THE TARGETS
3-star WR Cayden Lee
Lee, the nation’s No. 451 prospect and No. 65 wide receiver, helped Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.) outlast Cass (Ga.) in Friday’s Corky Kell Classic.
Lee and Co. picked up a 26-25 victory, and the 2023 Ole Miss recruiting target totaled 93 yards and two touchdowns on five catches in his last first high school game.
Even more, Lee flashed his superb route running all night, shaking defenders and creating separation downfield. He was also a key cog on defense for Kennesaw Mountain, making a huge play late to secure the nail-biting victory.
On3’s Jeremy Johnson even named him one of his top performers from the weekend’s festivities.
Next week: Campbell (Ga.), 7:30pm CT
3-star DL Jamarrion Harkless
Harkless, to put it mildly, helped Frederick Douglass (Ky.) blank Bryan Station, 33-0, on Friday.
Actually, the 6-foot-4, 315 pound defensive lineman was named the Golden Corral Buffet & Grill Big Things Kentucky Game of the Week Player of the Game following a roaring performance that included holding Bryan Station to just two first downs all game.
Harkless will officially visit Ole Miss for the Rebels’ season opener against Troy. He decommitted from Illinois in July, and Ole Miss defensive line coach Randall Joyner quickly pounced and lined up a visit for next weekend’s tilt against the Trojans.
Ole Miss likes its chances here, with SEC West rival Auburn the other school to watch.
Next: at Tates Creek (Ky.), 6:30pm CT
