'Best in-state class': Ole Miss signs largest number of Mississippi recruits of the Lane Kiffin era
Since arriving at Ole Miss Lane Kiffin has made it very clear how he intends to recruit. The approach is not solely focused on Mississippi prospects but more who the best players available are regardless of location.
Wednesday’s early National Signing Day showed Kiffin is continuing to make end roads throughout Mississippi. Nine of the Rebels 21 signees are in-state prospects, making this the largest group of Mississippi players signed under Kiffin’s watch.
When adding Holmes Community College’s Deion Smith to the list 52 percent of Wednesday’s signees are Mississippi natives.
Not only did Kiffin have a successful in-state recruiting effort but Ole Miss signed eight of the Top 10 Mississippi recruits according to On3’s industry rankings, including the No. 1 prospect in Lake Cormorant defensive lineman Kamarion Franklin.
In fact Ole Miss signed three of the top four Mississippi recruits with Houston defensive lineman William Echoles (No. 3) and Bay Springs defensive lineman Kamron Beavers (No. 4) coming to Oxford with Franklin.
“With anything there’s combinations that go into that,” Kiffin said on Wednesday of his in-state success. “I think this was a really good year in-state of players, especially defensive lineman. …I don’t really follow it that way but I feel like it was the best in-state class of players or high level players. Since we’ve been here.”
Ole Miss also signed The No. 8 and 9-rated Mississippi recruits in Pascagoula defensive lineman Jeffery Rush and St. Martin wide receiver Noreel White, respectively.
Kiffin also managed to sign Mississippi natives at the JUCO level. Joining Smith at Ole Miss next fall is Jones County Junior College teammates in defensive back Cedrick Beavers and linebacker Raymond Collins.
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Ole Miss managed to have success in luring the top JUCO players to as well. Smith, Beavers and Collins are the top three recruits in Mississippi according to On3’s rankings.
Then there is the success Ole Miss in the annual Egg Bowl since Kiffin arrived, which is playing a factor.
Ole Miss is 3-1 against Mississippi State in Kiffin’s four years as head coach after winning the ‘Golden Egg’ back in Starkville last month.
Pair that with the Rebels having two 10-win regular seasons in the last three years and two trips to a New Year’s Six bowl game, Kiffin has an easy sell job to in-state players.
In the last four seasons Mississippi State has had one nine-win season and the no more than a seven-win season in the other three years.
“Certainly helps the different difference directions of the two programs of the state. That always helps,” Kiffin added. “When one program’s going one way and the other one’s going the other (direction).”
There is still one recruiting battle remaining with Starkville’s Braylon ‘Stonka’ Burnside. The Bulldogs have the edge now but Ole Miss is still going to push until Burnside commits next month.
