The early signing period begins Wednesday as newly-minted head coach Lane Kiffin pieces together his first recruiting class in Oxford. Follow along here at SuperTalk’s live blog for updates throughout the day on all of Ole Miss’ signees.
Signees:
7:11 A.M. CT –(OT) Tobias Braun: Germany (Salisbury Prep)
The consensus three-star prospect signed with the Rebels over Florida State, among others. Braun is originally from Germany and played his school football at Salisbury Prep School in Salisbury, CT
OFFICIAL | @tobiasbraunOL is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/huTo91gShE pic.twitter.com/A44NFuRnao
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
7:15 A.M. CT — (ILB) Cedric Johnson: Mobile, AL (WP Davidson)
Johnson had been committed to the Rebels since June and the three-star linebacker from Mobile, AL made it official on Wednesday morning. Johnson had offers from Tennessee and Kansas as well as a host of group of five offers. At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, the Rebels offered Rollins last summer after a strong camp performance.
OFFICIAL | @Cedric17_ is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/zs4uPUMwSx pic.twitter.com/Qvu0zlxMPz
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
7:23 A.M. CT –(DT) DeSanto Rollins: Baton Rouge, LA (Parkview Baptist)
Rollins committed to Ole Miss over Tennessee in June and held firm in that commitment throughout. The 6-foot-4, 282-pound prospect held offers from Oregon, Tennessee, Colorado and Virginia. The Rebels lose the likes of Josiah Coatney and Benito Jones on the interior defensive line and landing Rollins is sure to help in replenishing the depth on the defensive front.
OFFICIAL | @desanto_te_1 is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/aFxAgD3XY2 pic.twitter.com/Td6iGrgnW2
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
7:29 A.M. — (TE) DaMarcus Thomas: Sarland, AL (Sarland HS)
Like Rollins and Johnson, Thomas committed to Ole Miss in June. The 6-foot-2, 228-pound three-star prospect went on his official visit last weekend and stuck with the Rebels. The tight end room loses Jason Pellerin and Octavious Cooley, two guys who were underused under former offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez, and Thomas is a nice addition. It is worth noting that FAU tight end Harrison Bryant won the 2019 Mackey Award for best tight end in the country in Kiffin’s offense last season.
OFFICIAL | @xxii_demar is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/r7NSO78zk2 pic.twitter.com/M3em2ukhg6
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
7:41 A.M. — (QB) Kade Renfo: Stephenville, TX (Stephenville)
Renfrow was a late commit. The pro-style signal caller pledged to the Rebels on Monday afternoon. Renfro was recruited heavily by new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who offered him at UCF as we’ll. Renfro also held offers from North Texas, Arizona State, Arkansas and Florida State. Renfro is 6-foot-3, 189 pounds and is rated as a three-star prospect and is the 51st-ranked pro-style quarterback nationally according to 247Sports.
The Rebels lost long-time commit and two-sport star Robby Ashford last week, a dual-threat prospect seen as an ideal fit in Rich Rodriguez’s run-heavy spread system. Ashford’s de-commitment, along with Renfro’s signing is, perhaps, a glimpse into the future as to how Ole Miss will evaluate and recruit quarterbacks under this new coaching staff.
OFFICIAL | @austin_renfro1 is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/yU7SSBqZBn pic.twitter.com/gJSx60WTbT
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
8:36 A.M. CT — (ILB) Austin Keys: Seminary, MS (Seminary)
Keys’ signature marked the second linebacker commit for the Rebels in this class. The Mississippi native held offers from Auburn and a host of group of five schools. Keys is a 6-foo-2, 242 pound three-star and is the 22nd-ranked prospect in the state.
OFFICIAL | @iamAustinK_ is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/fcAoEg4FxH pic.twitter.com/d6XX0pA3cH
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
8:53 A.M. CT — (S) Derek Bermudez: Sandalwood, FLA (Sandalwood High)
Bermudez is a three-star safety that should help a young secondary that struggled last season. He’s a long, rangy safety at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds and has the ability to play corner as well. Bermudez was committed to Florida State until the Seminoles fired Willie Taggart. Kiffin made a strong push for Bermudez and it paid off as the Rebels add a versatile piece to their defensive backfield. Bermudez had an extensive offer list that included the likes of Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma and Oregon among others.
OFFICIAL | @derek__bermudez is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/qsvEQAxnZH pic.twitter.com/iV8DEZku6U
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
9:31 A.M. CT — (RB) Kentrel Bullock: Columbia, MS (Columbia HS)
Bullock originally committed to the Rebels in June, only to announce his de-commitment after Matt Luke was fired and then commit again earlier this week. The 5-foot-10, 190 pound running back made it official on Wednesday and is the No. 6 player in the state according to 247Sports, which has him rated as a four-star prospect. Bullock is the lone running back commit so far in Ole Miss’ 2020 class and joins a talented young backfield that includes the likes of rising sophomores Jerrion Ealy and Snoop Connor. The Rebels lost senior Scottie Phillips and Bullock will be a welcomed addition.
OFFICIAL | @Iamkentrel_1 is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/8sQlyiwlDJ pic.twitter.com/53FjrOieO6
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
9:45 A.M. CT — (OLB) Jakivuan Brown: Horn Lake, MS (Horn Lake HS)
Brown is rated as a three-star by 247Sports composite rankings and is the third linebacker to join the Rebels’ 2020 class. He and Keys took official visits to Ole Miss last weekend. Brown committed to the Rebels in August. Ole Miss lost out to Kentucky on Brown’s teammate, four-star defensive tackle and the state’s no. 3 overall prospect Josiah Hayes, earlier Wednesday morning, but managed to add one defensive piece from Horn Lake to this 2020 class.
OFFICIAL | @Jbrown2x is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/UA9bpcSJyP pic.twitter.com/ZwhyFdl6IX
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
12:50 p.m. CT — (OT) Eli Acker: Columbus, MS (Heritage)
Three-star offensive tackle Eli Acker became is the 10th member of Ole Miss’ signing class. The 6-foot-6 and 285- pound tackle is the top-ranked offensive lineman in Mississippi, according to 247Sports. He is the the fourth in-state prospect to sign with the Rebels today, along with Brown, Bullock and Keys.
OFFICIAL | @AckerEli is #AllAboard#HottyToddy | #NSD20
📰 https://t.co/3iXWG3RCzg pic.twitter.com/e46lv4Hx7y
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 18, 2019
(ILB) Daylen Gill: Louisville, MS (Jones County JC)
A three-star prospect, Gill signed with Kiffin and Ole Miss a handful of days after an official visit on December 13. At 6’0, 230 pounds, Gill had 61 tackles, 17 for loss with six sacks and three forced fumbles at Jones this past season.
(DB) Lakevias Daniel : Louisville, MS (Jones County JC)
Also a three-star prospect, Daniel held offers from Louisville and West Virginia, among others and elected to sign with the Rebels. He is expected to be a mid-year enrollee and will compete for playing time in a young secondary that struggled at times last season.
