2024 TE Dillon Hipp commits to Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss really got involved with Scottsdale (Ariz.) Desert Mountain three-star tight end Dillon Hipp earlier in the year. Rebels co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach John David Baker traveled out to Scottsdale in the spring to watch Hipp in practice.
After that practice Baker and Hipp had a conversation. During that talk Baker asked Hipp what he had to do to get him Oxford.
That conversation and the following trips to campus made everything click in Hipp’s mind that he needed to be a Rebel. On Friday he made it official announcing his commitment to the Rebels over Baylor.
“After my Baylor OV, which was my last one, I was really unsure on where I wanted to go,” Hipp told On3. “After looking back at the OVs with a clear mind and no recency bias, I prayed on it a lot and I ended up getting down to Ole Miss. It’s the place for me and I can’t wait to get on campus.”
Out of all the schools he’s visited, Hipp said no other town compared to Oxford in his mind. He noted that the people in town are some of the best. It was clear to him that they care about the football players on and off of the field.
Rebels coaches played into Hipp’s decision
That environment and getting to play in the SEC were two factors in Hipp’s decision. Getting to play for a head coach like Lane Kiffin only made his decision that much clearer.
“I really like Lane Kiffin as a coach,” said Hipp, the No. 948 player in the 2024 class. “He has a great personality, is easy to talk to and pretty laid back. I got along with him very well and had a great conversation with him on my OV.
…Right before I committed, he basically told me how big of a priority I was for their recruiting class. That meant a lot coming from the head coach. It’s also a testament to all of the work I’ve put in.”
Kiffin isn’t the only coach who played into Hipp’s decision.
Hipp knew that Baker was the kind of coach he wanted to play for from the first meeting. That bond only grew over the next couple months. Now Hipp attributes Baker as the main reason why he’s headed to Oxford.
“Coach Baker is a great dude,” Hipp said. “I’m not even on the team yet and he’s taught me so much about life, working hard and having the right mentality. Being around him every day will be great for me to build up my resiliency and to have that iron sharpens iron mentality.
…It’s really a good thing being around a coach life that because he put so much effort in and tells me exactly how it is.”