Lane Kiffin says winning in-state recruits is 'really big'

Ole Miss is once again the top destination for top in-state recruits in Mississippi. Lane Kiffin has brought a certain swagger to Oxford, and top local players are flocking there to be a part of The ‘Sip.

Kiffin knows how important gaining commitments from in-state recruits is on a yearly basis, and he certainly didn’t disapoint this cycle. During his National Signing Day press conference, he discussed what it means to have these big-time recruits in the program, and how the Rebels can continue to dominate the local recruiting scene.

“I think really big, which is obvious. Something that didn’t necessarily happen when we first got here. They were going away to play. I think we did a better job of that. Hope we continue to do that,” Kiffin said Wednesday. “As guys come in and have success here, that will help that. I’m not going to get into NIL a whole lot and stuff but that had some effect before where I think it’s public knowledge that we’re in a little better position—we’re definitely in a better position than we were sitting up here a year ago.”

Kiffin made good on his promises to make Ole Miss the recruiting giant in Mississippi by signing three of the top five in-state players. Suntarine Perkins (No. 1), a top-50 recruit and No. 4 linebacker in the country, Ayden Williams (2), a top-15 wide receiver and Jamarious Brown, a top-30 defensive lineman all signed with the Rebels prior to signing day.

Kiffin and the Rebels have yet to gain a commitment from any in-state players out of the transfer portal, though that has every chance of changing any day in the current landscape of college football. So far, last year’s portal king (Kiffin) has only gained three commitments out of the portal: Former NC State defensive lineman Joshua Harris, former UCF linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste and former Texas A&M kicker Caden Davis.

Of course, that could change as we won’t know the full extent of Ole Miss’ 2023 recruiting class until after spring practice. Some recruits are looking toward February to announce their next moves, and players in the transfer portal have free reign on when they want to commit.

Either way, Kiffin made it clear that he isn’t done putting the pieces together for his 2023 squad. Ole Miss currently ranks 28th overall in the On3 Consensus recruiting rankings, and if what Kiffin said is true, that ranking will only move up as the offseason gets underway.