Robert Nkemdiche from Georgia, the No. 1 overall recruit in the ESPN 150, started a banner day for Mississippi when he announced he would join his brother with the Rebels. That coup was followed by another for Ole Miss: Laremy Tunsil, the No 1-rated offensive tackle from Florida, chose Mississippi, too. And Laquon Treadwell the No. 1-ranked receiver from Illinios, committed to attending school in Oxford, too.
An amazing day for a program that has been irrelevant for many years.
“I feel like it’s the right place for me,” said Nkemdiche after his announcement. “I feel like they can do special things, and they’re on the rise. I feel like going to play with my brother (Denzel), we can do something special.”
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Nkemdiche from Grayson High School in Loganville, made the announcement Wednesday morning at a news conference broadcast on ESPNU, the first day high school football recruits could officially sign with colleges. He chose the Rebels over LSU and Florida.
Additionally, ESPN 150 offensive lineman Austin Golson and safety Antonio Conner will be Rebels, too. Together, those five players could shape Ole Miss’ best recruiting class ever. And they were not done. ESPN 150 defensive end Chris Jones, and Nkemdiche’s close friend and Loganville Grayson teammate David Kamara were also considering Mississippi.
Second-year coach Hugh Freeze and his staff have to be beaming. They were 7-6 in their first season, a major improvement from the 2-10 year of 2011.
“I feel like he’s a good man, he’s special,” Nkemdiche said of Freeze. “I feel like he’s a man of his word. I respect him a lot, and I feel like he has good things coming.”
When Nkemdiche, Treadwell and Tunsil announced their decisions, the Ole Miss coaching staff’s wild celebration was caught on ESPN.
“I’m so thankful and blessed that these families have chosen to trust in us,” Freeze said. “We’ll treat these young men as our own.”