Birmingham (Ala.) Parker defensive end Demarcus Smith committed to Ole Miss August 21, then decommitted October 7.
Lane Kiffin, Deke Adams and the staff in Oxford never slowed their recruitment down of Smith even thought he backed off his commitment to explore all options. The 6-foot-4, 250 pounder thought hard about Mississippi State, and gave a look at Kansas, but in the end, his heart led him back to Ole Miss.
"I felt I committed too soon and rushed my first commitment, so I took more time, thought about things a lot more, and now I know it is Ole Miss," said Smith.
"This commitment is different for me. I knew I liked Ole Miss before, but I didn't really put enough thought into my decision. I looked into things a lot more, I talked more with coaches and I knew last week that I was picking Ole Miss over Mississippi State."
Smith said he went "back and forth" for a few weeks, but things got clearer for him over time.
"I kept talking to coach Adams, I kept watching Ole Miss play, and it is just the best place for me. I really relate with coach Adams, I like how they recruited me and they made me feel important.
"Me and coach Adams have a great relationship, and that is a big part of my decision. How he talks to me, what type of coach he is, and the job I feel he can do with me makes a big difference."
Kiffin played a role in this too.
Smith called and gave Kiffin the news of his commitment last Friday morning. The head coach was "excited" about the news and the feelings are reciprocated by Smith.
"Coach Kiffin is a cool dude and it looks like with him as the coach, the future ie very bright at Ole Miss," said Smith. "I have watch the team play, I see how the players have bonded, and I love what coach Kiffin is doing with the team.
"I feel great about my commitment this time. It is different than the first one and I am excited like coach is."
