LIVE! From the Manning Center: Kiffin believes NSD delivered Ole Miss ‘best class we’ve signed’
Ole Miss football’s 2024 Early Signing Class was made official on Wednesday.
Now comes the fun part.
Twelve of the signees are set to join the Rebels in January — when they’ll enroll and later participate in spring practices. Ole Miss signed the No. 19 overall class in the country, according to On3.
The full list: JUCOs Cedrick Beavers (cornerback), Raymond Collins (linebacker) and Marquis Willis (wide receiver); four-star defensive linemen William Echoles, Kamarion Franklin and Jeffrey Rush; four-star wide receiver Noreel White; and three-star recruits Cameron Clark (EDGE), Anthony Robinson (safety), Jude Foster (offensive line), Dillon Hipp (tight end) and Andy Jaffe (defensive back).
“Exciting day,” fourth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said, in his Signing Day press conference. “A lot of things going on between practicing for a major bowl and having Signing Day on the same day.
“Excited for so many players around the country that achieve their dream of making a college decision today. It’s always a special day for all of them and their family. We’re excited about the guys that are coming here. I want to credit our staff, and really our whole building, for putting a lot of work into all these high school, portal and junior college players. To be able to put this many guys together takes a lot of work by a lot of people. I’m very grateful to all those that helped around here and put together what, I think, on paper, collectively, would easily be our best class we’ve signed since we’ve been here.
“A lot of thanks to Walker Jones and the Grove Collective. Our fans really showed up. Done a great job in a number of ways, including support during the season in the stands. Highest attendance for a season in the history of the season. A lot of good things going on right now.”
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Kiffin also announced Clemson linebacker TJ Dudley is eligible to play in the Peach Bowl.
He was cleared on the same adjudicated grounds as Ole Miss basketball guard Brandon Murray. Murray was cleared last week after a U.S. District Judge last Wednesday issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The TRO was converted to a preliminary injunction a day later, meaning all two-time transfers in college athletics were made immediately eligible to play for the rest of the season.
Dudley, then, is in the clear. Ole Miss takes on Penn State for the first time in history on December 30 at 11 a.m. CT. The Rebels are vying for the program’s first-ever 11-win season.
“TJ Dudley can play in the Peach Bowl,” Kiffin said. Dudley sat out the regular season due to NCAA rules. “That’s neat for him.
“I think it should have been that way anyway. They changed the rule once the rosters got smaller where you can’t burn a redshirt in a bowl game. It doesn’t count toward eligibility. It’s a good ruling in that way.”
