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Now that Ole Miss' 2014 campaign is in the trash books, we're officially into crootin' season. Things kick into high gear this weekend with the annual pair of high school football all-star games: the Under Armour All-America Game on Friday afternoon followed by the Army All-America Bowl on Saturday.
Playing in the Under Armour game, which airs on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. CT from St. Petersburg, Fla., are six Ole Miss targets, including four-star verbal commits Leo Lewis and Drew Richmond. We'll also get a look at five-star receiver DaMarkus Lodge (thought to be an Ole Miss lean) and three other guys the Rebs are still chasing.
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None of those players are expected to pick a hat during the game, but it still gives us a good look at some guys that could end up in red and blue. In 2013 we got to see Robert Nkemdiche, Laquon Treadwell and Tony Conner show out and last year Rod Taylor played in the game.
Here's a quick rundown of the six guys you should be keeping an eye on.
Leo Lewis, LB
4-star at 247, Rivals and Scout
The nation's top rated inside linebacker per 247 decommitted from Alabama and pledged to Ole Miss in September, but he tweeted during the Peach Bowl blowout that he's dropping his official visit to Oxford.
Dropping all 3 of my official visits . Will reschedule 3 more soon .
— Leo Lewis III (@TheLeoLewis_40) December 31, 2014
I'm staying in the SEC . I'll make an impact & most certainly contribute to which ever team that may be in every way possible !
— Leo Lewis III (@TheLeoLewis_40) December 31, 2014
I haven't seen any official news, but that sure sounds like a decommitment to me. He was also considering LSU and State, but he's apparently cancelled his officials with them as well.
Drew Richmond, OT
4-star at 247, Rivals and Scout
Ranked a top 100 player and the No. 1 prospect in Tennessee by both 247 and Rivals, Richmond is an Ole Miss commit. Anyone who watched the TCU game knows the Rebels need offensive line help and the 6'5, 310-pound Richmond could be the eventual replacement for Laremy Tunsil. SB Nation's Bud Elliot has questions about his footwork, but thinks he'll be a multi-year starter.
Richmond was still tweeting Ole Miss-related stuff after the Peach Bowl, so he doesn't seem shaken by the blowout.
DaMarkus Lodge, WR
5-star at Scout, 4-star at 247 and Rivals
Lodge is considered an Ole Miss lean after decommiting from Texas A&M in September. Ranked the fourth best receiver in the country by Scout, he's making an official visit to Ole Miss on Jan. 23 and is already comparing himself to Laquon Treadwell.
"I just want to get down there and see what they'e about, see what it's like for a weekend," Lodge told The Times-Picayune earlier this week. "I know Laquon Treadwell is down there and when he leaves, they're not going to have that guy. Our game is kind of similar. We are both big strong, receivers and I could step in and take his spot."
Toby Weathersby, OT
4-star at 247, Rivals and Scout
Weathersby, a top-10 offensive tackle at both 247 and Scout, would be another big boost to the Rebel O-line. He decommitted from Texas a few weeks ago and is now mulling Ole Miss, Arkansas and LSU. He has an official visit to the Rebels set for the end of this month.
Roquan Smith, LB
4-star at 247, Rivals and Scout
The country's fourth best outside linebacker by 247's composite rankings lacks size at 6'2, 205 pounds, but makes up for it with elite athleticism. The Rebels could certainly use Smith now that Serderius Bryant and Keith Lewis are leaving, but it looks like a long shot. He does have an official visit in Oxford later this month but he's considered a Georgia lean.
Kendrick Norton, DT
4-star at 247 and Rivals, 3-star at Scout
The 6'3, 305-pound Norton is a big, powerful tackle that would make the Rebels' ridiculously loaded defensive front even deeper. He'd previously said that Florida and Miami were his top two, but told GatorCountry.com this week that the Gators have slipped out of his top five. That could open the door for Ole Miss, where Norton is taking an official visit in a few weeks.