4-star RB Shekai Mills-Knight commits to Ole Miss: 'Ole Miss just has what I am looking for'

Ole Miss was first to offer Shekai Mills-Knight. Since the Rebels offered last fall, they stayed consistent and set the pace in his recruitment. At different times, different schools competed with Ole Miss, but when it came time to make his decision, the SEC program in Oxford ended up on top.

“Ole Miss has always been a school high on my list and that never changed,” Mills-Knight told On3. “Auburn made a late push, and since my official visit there, they worked hard to get me, but I know Ole Miss is right for me.

“Ole Miss has a lot to offer. They have a lot of things I like. From my relationship with coach Kevin Smith to the feeling I have when I am on campus to how I will be used in the offense – Ole Miss just has what I am looking for.

“Before I was even ranked, they offered me and recruited me. Other schools came in after I was ranked and all that, but Ole Miss was with me from the beginning. Them believing in me early and building relationships with me made a big difference in my decision.”

Mills-Knight is commitment No. 15 for Ole Miss.

No feeling matched the feeling Mills-Knight had in Oxford

He has visited six times. He was back in Oxford late in July. Every time Mills-Knight visits Ole Miss, he gets the same feeling.

“It feels like home,” Mills-Knight said. “Ole Miss is about family. The coach’s kids are running around, it is about family and that is how it always is there. The staff knows how to have fun, and for me, football is supposed to be fun. In college, I know it is a business, but going to Ole Miss and being in that atmosphere, it will be fun. That was always how it was for me.”

Everyone welcomes the No. 271 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking out of Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School when he is on campus. That made him comfortable and played a role in his decision.

“I felt the love and respect when I was at Ole Miss. From the coaches, the players and the students… they all know me and made me feel welcome. I am treated like a player already, the people are so friendly and being around the people at Ole Miss showed me how family-oriented it is there.”

Mills-Knight is excited to play for the Ole Miss coaches

Smith led the way. Enrique Davis was a factor too. Then Lane Kiffin helped close the commitment with Mills-Knight.

“Coach Smith is my guy,” Mills-Knight said. “He is everything I want in a coach. Coach Smith is a family guy who is a great husband to his wife and father to his kids. He is going to be a great mentor for me on and off the field.

“He knows how to coach, he has had great success and I know he is going to help me a lot. Then he has coach Davis working with him. We have a great relationship, he played the position too, so I get to learn from two guys that know what they are talking about.”

Mills-Knight loves the connection he has with running backs coaches and he feels the same about coach Kiffin.

“Coach Kiffin is a great coach with a great vibe who knows how to care for his players. He is a cool guy who is himself and players like to be around him. He knows how to recruit, he is winning a lot of games and big things are coming at Ole Miss.

“The coaching staff and Ole Miss has everything I want, so I know it is the place for me. It starts with coach Kiffin and there is a lot I like about the school and the people there.”