Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss coaching staff have a big game on the field Saturday and a huge opportunity on the recruiting trail as the 11th-ranked Rebels welcome in No. 9 Alabama, a game to be played in front of a star-studded recruit section.
Ole Miss has 13 commits at this point in the cycle and class jewel Suntarine Perkins is expected back. The Crimson Tide are the other relevant school in Perkins recruitment as he’s also been to Tuscaloosa this fall. Four-star quarterback Marcel Reed, Top247 receiver Ayden Williams, four-star edge rusher Jamarious Brown and four-star offensive lineman Bryce Sanders are among the others expected back. Reed, safety Daniel Demery and tight end Jayvontay Conner are taking official visits.
There are some guys Ole Miss would love to finish strong with including 247Sports Composite four-star running back Christopher Johnson who is taking his official visit. The Fort Lauderdale product is also strongly considering Miami but one source thinks this is trending well for the Rebels coming into this trip.
Ole Miss has always been positioned well with Kennesaw (Ga.) Mountain receiver Cayden Lee but UCF has picked up serious tracking this fall. Does Lee want to play in the SEC on a stage like the one he’ll watch Saturday? Time will tell. UCF has done a terrific job recruiting Lee, they’re having an outstanding season as well and that staff has a lot of inroads in the Peach State.
Florence (Ala.) Mars Hill Bible School offensive lineman Koby Keenum committed to Kentucky in July but the Rebels are looking to change that as he comes to check out Oxford. Kiffin and company have been on him since January.
Fulton (Miss.) Itawamba Agricultural four-star safety Isaac Smith is one the Ole Miss staff will be excited to get around all the Rebels commits on campus as they try and continue to show him how important it is he stays in state. LSU has been trending on the 247Sports Crystal Ball.
Selma (Ala.) High four-star safety DaKaari Nelson is taking an official visit. A source close to Nelson thinks it will be hard for Ole Miss to flip him from Penn State but they’ll take a swing.
There will be some coveted 2024 prospects on campus including Top247 quarterback Walker White who the Rebels are considered the early team to beat, 247Sports Composite five-star receiver Ryan Wingo, Top247 athlete Braylon Burnside, Top247 edge rusher Kolaj Cobbins, edge rusher Jamonta Waller, Top247 linebacker Edwin Spillman, four-star athlete Boo Carter and four-star athlete JJ Harrell.