Standifer signs with Rebels
Crete-Monee (Ill.) class of 2012 cornerback Anthony Standifer did not expect to still be talking about his recruitment in March of his senior year. Yet, Sunday the three-star prospect was revealing which of his final three schools he was signing with.
After taking official visits to Notre Dame, Boise State, Pitt, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, the 6-1, 175-pound Standifer had narrowed his choices down to the Panthers, Commodores and Rebels. On Sunday, he announced his intentions to play his ball at Ole Miss.
Advertisement
"I knew it when I was down there, and told them when I was down there," Standifer said. "It was the facilities, the coaches, the players on the team and I fit in real well. It just felt like home."
Standifer took his official visit to Ole Miss the weekend of Feb. 25. He had officially visited Pitt and Vanderbilt the two preceding weekends.
Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze is in his first year as the Rebel's head coach. Standifer was attracted to the opportunity to be the start of something new in Oxford, but also sees a lot of experience there that can help him get to the next level.
"Coach [Wesley] McGriff has put a lot of DB's in the NFL, so I am getting a chance to be coached by one of the best DB coaches in the country," Standifer said. "They are starting over [at Ole Miss], so there is a chance I could play early. There's a lot of opportunity."
Standifer was ranked as the No. 45 cornerback prospect in the country and the No. 14 player in the state of Illinois in the 2012 class.
"Ole Miss likes my ball skills, my size, my length," Standifer said. "My footwork needs to get better, but they like my height."
Sunday's announcement of his signing with Ole Miss was the end of a rollercoaster recruitment for Standifer. He originally committed to Michigan last spring, but the two parties went different ways shortly after his senior season and Standifer started the recruiting process all over again.
"It was real tough and got stressful at times," Standifer said. "It's a lot of pressure off my shoulders now. It might not have been easy, but it was worth it."
Standifer feels the recruiting process has helped him become a more well-rounded individual. He has goals to make it to the NFL, but also said he was going to focus during these next four years at Ole Miss on getting his education.