Ole Miss makes 1st in-home visit of contact period

The Lane Train pulled into Clearwater, Florida, for Ole Miss’ first in-home visit of the 2022 recruiting cycle.

Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin was in town visiting longtime Ole Miss interior offensive line commitment Preston Cushman of Clearwater (Fla.) Calvary Christian. Cushman shared a picture from the visit with the Kiffin and Rebels’ offensive line coach Jake Thornton.

Humbled to have @Lane_Kiffin and @CoachThornton61 at my home for their first visit of the Year! #hottytoddy @WarriorsFB_HC pic.twitter.com/9CNOH1odeI

— Preston Cushman (@Cush_51) November 28, 2021

In the caption, Thornton said it was the Ole Miss coaches’ “first visit of the year.”

Cushman ranks as a three-star prospect, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is the No. 78 offensive tackle and 145^th best player in Florida.

Cushman picked Ole Miss over offers from Florida, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Western Kentucky and others.

Ole Miss takes advantage of start of contact period

After months of the evaluation recruiting period for senior prospects, the contact period started on Sunday. It’s clear the Ole Miss coaches wasted little time taking advantage of the contact period.

This window is open through Jan. 29, 2022, except for a dead period from Dec. 13-Jan. 13.

During the contact period, it is “permissible for authorized athletics department staff members to make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.”

This is when college coaches start to make in-home visits with recruits and their families. It’s an important part of the recruiting calendar for both committed and uncommitted prospects.

In-home visit key for committed prospects

For committed recruits like Ole Miss’ Cushman, it’s an opportunity for family members to visit one-on-one with their future coaches. They often solidify their decision ahead of the opening of the early signing period on Dec. 15. For uncommitted recruits, it’s an invaluable opportunity for recruits and their families. They get to pepper coaches with questions about their programs.

Elite recruiters use the home visit as an opportunity to set their institution and themselves above the rest.

During this window, a coach can visit the recruit once a week at school or at his home, or both. They can do that as long as they occur on the same calendar day.

Since the head football coach only makes one home visit, it is up to the assistant to make sure the timing of the visit and the recruiting game plan is coordinated.