Three-point stance: Harbaugh, Ole Miss and quick hitters
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Fans love to hate on Ole Miss. After the Rebels reached No. 1 in the country Wednesday in our recruiting rankings after the commitment of five-star offensive tackle Gregory Little (above), fans everywhere tweeted the worst things about the program. Rival fans posted everything from accusations of cheating to pointing out that Ole Miss hasn't won anything significant yet despite the windfall of four- and five-stars under Hugh Freeze. One thing is clear -- Ole Miss is under the skin of many.
And make no mistake about it, the Rebels are the real deal on the recruiting trail. They are currently the only team in the nation -- not Alabama, Florida State, USC or any of the other usual suspects -- to have multiple five-star prospects committed at this point in the recruiting year. Quarterback Shea Patterson was the No. 1 player in the country at one point and could earn that back while Little is also a candidate for that coveted honor at No. 4. They also have wide receiver DeKaylin Metcalf, who just lit things up at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, as the highest-ranked four star in the nation. When you have three players -- defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell -- at the top of their respective position groups as future first-rounders in the upcoming NFL Draft, prospects take notice and will gravitate towards your program with or without an SEC title. Under Freeze, a great recruiter, Ole Miss has reached unheard of heights in recruiting and we all know that four- and five-stars attract other four- and five-stars, so they will be a factor for years to come.
3. Quick hitters
Eight of our 23 five-stars in this class were previously committed to other schools, including the aforementioned Patterson (ArizonaClick De-commitments and re-commitments are getting out of hand and I don't see them slowing down anytime soon barring NCAA involvement. Of the four players mentioned above, only Lawrence was making his first commitment and even in the 2017 class, de-commitments are off to a very quick start with prospects like QB Hunter JohnsonClick Busy week for the 2016 class as the No. 2 player (DT Dexter LawrenceClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link. to ClemsonClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link.), No. 4 player (Little) and No. 6 player (QB Jacob EasonClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link. remaining with GeorgiaClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link.) either committed for the first time, second time or re-affirmed their commitment. Throw in No. 9 (DT Marlon DavidsonClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link. re-affirming and signing with AuburnClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link.) and former five-star Walker done with the process, it has been a busy start to the dead period.Here to view this Link. (flip from TennesseeClick Busy week for the 2016 class as the No. 2 player (DT Dexter LawrenceClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link. to ClemsonClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link.), No. 4 player (Little) and No. 6 player (QB Jacob EasonClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link. remaining with GeorgiaClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link.) either committed for the first time, second time or re-affirmed their commitment. Throw in No. 9 (DT Marlon DavidsonClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link. re-affirming and signing with AuburnClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at Texas A&MClick Here to view this Link. with quarterback Kyler MurrayClick Here to view this Link. leaving. Former five-star quarterback Kyle AllenClick Here to view this Link. transferred last week and Sumlin has lost former four-stars Matt DavisClick Here to view this Link. and Kenny HillClick Here to view this Link. as well. Phrases like "lost trust" are making the rounds. Who would think that Sumlin's seat might be hotter than the one Longhorns coach Charlie StrongClick Here to view this Link. sits on in Austin?Here to view this Link.) and former five-star Walker done with the process, it has been a busy start to the dead period.Here to view this Link. to Clemson), LB Levi DraperClick Busy week for the 2016 class as the No. 2 player (DT Dexter LawrenceClick Kevin SumlinClick Here to view this Link. is in trouble at
Mike Farrell
National Recruiting Director