Cottons coach discusses his choice, ability

Four-star quarterback Raymond Cotton made his pledge earlier this afternoon. The 6-foot-4, 216-pounder originally committed to Auburn before looking around at Southern Miss, Ole Miss and Kansas State.

"He decided about a week ago after the Kansas State visit that Ole Miss was the place to go," Fort Meade (Md.) Meade head coach Lance Clelland said. "I think it was the relationship he built with the coaches in the short time he opened up his recruiting.

"He fell in love with the school and program and the direction they are heading. He likes Coach Nutt and feels like it's where he can be for the next four years."

Location seemed to be a big factor with Cotton.

"I think it was a big factor," he said. "He was committed to Auburn for the better part of six or seven months. He was looking for a place he made the kind of connection he did with Coach Tuberville, Willis and Franklin at Auburn. He's got family down there, he's from Mobile and they will be able to see every game he plays."

Clelland went further into what kind of player Ole Miss is getting.

"I tell you, they are getting a rare quarterback, athlete," he said. "When you're talking about Raymond, you're talking about a 6-foot-5, 225-pound player who runs as well as any quarterback in the country. He's a true 4.5. Ole Miss is getting a tremendous athlete that has just scratched the surface on how good he is as a quarterback. The sky is the limit as far as I'm concerned."