Lane Kiffin 'has a plan' when it comes to completing Ole Miss' latest recruiting class
HOUSTON — Ole Miss is busy putting the finishing touches on its preparation ahead of Wednesday’s Texas Bowl but head coach Lane Kiffin is also still focusing on the recruiting cycle.
Recruiting never stops in this day of the transfer portal and the NIL and Kiffin is wearing two hats during their week-long stay in Texas.
Ole Miss wrapped up its early National Signing Day class with 12 high school signees after wide receiver Cayden Lee was a late pickup last Wednesday. Still Ole Miss had the distinction of signing the lowest number of players among all 14 Southeastern Conference schools.
Following Ole Miss’ first Texas Bowl practice in Houston on Monday Kiffin spoke about what is next in his recruiting strategy after the Rebels wrap up their 2022 season on Wednesday.
“We have a plan,” Kiffin said. “Like I said, it’s a weird (signing day) press conference. It’s a different day and a different time how things are. To sign 12 on that day, you’ve already seen significant portal players since then.”
Top 10
- 1Hot
CFP Top 25
First College Football Playoff rankings
- 2
PSU over Tennessee
CFP chairman explains decision
- 3
Brand bias
Joel Klatt calls out CFP committee
- 4
CFP bracket
12-team bracket after first CFP Top 25
- 5
Ben Herbstreit
Kirk Herbstreit asks for prayers
Kiffin made the transfer portal a very successful endeavor for Ole Miss this season and 2023 looks to be more of the same.
Last week Ole Miss landed commitments from UCF linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste and defensive lineman Joshua Harries out of North Carolina State.
The holiday weekend saw the transfer portal business pick up for Ole Miss with the commitments of wide receivers Tre Harris and Chris Marshall.
There are still areas of need, including improving quarterback depth behind Jaxson Dart next year, and Kiffin is aware. Though he is still practicing patience and not hitting the panic button yet.
“Remember we didn’t lose as much as a lot of people did as far as significant players,” Kiffin said. “I think, in total, our number would be at 20. Again, you got to know what you have versus going out and signing 30 guys or something.”
In fact, Ole Miss retained one player that was looking elsewhere after defensive back Kyndrich Breedlove withdrew his name from the transfer portal on Sunday.
Securing a large number of high school prospects on National Signing Day is still the de-facto strategy for many schools but Kiffin is sticking to his strategy of being very selective in who he puts his full court press on in courting to come to Ole Miss.
There is a plan, but it seems Kiffin is keeping it very close to the vest.
