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Yes, Hugh Freeze's 2013 crootin class was incredible (it's probably going to have three first-round picks in this year's NFL Draft), but most folks likely viewed it as a one-time deal. That class, the thought went, was built by #TheNetwork a perfect storm of happenstance (the prevailing winds of which were blown by having the brother of the No. 1 prospect in the country already on campus), more so than some sustained climactic recruiting shift. It was unlikely, at best, that Freeze was gonna out-punch the SEC big boys to haul in another top 10 class in Oxford.
Yet heading down the stretch towards NSD 2016, that's exactly how things are shaping up. Ole Miss finds itself in the top five in all of the major class rankings and as high as No. 3 at Scout and ESPN.
There's still a lot that can change between now and National Signing Day on Feb. 3, but the fact that the Rebels are doing this well at any point in the game is an assurance that Freeze's 2013 class was no flash in the pan.
Below are the class rankings and the entire list of 2016 commitments and early enrollees (not including special teamers).
2016 class rankings
247Sports: 4
Rivals: 4
ESPN: 3
Scout: 3
2016 commits and early enrollees
Click the links for detailed scouting reports/profiles on each guy.
Player | Star rating | ||||
Composite | 247 | Rivals | ESPN | Scout | |
OT Greg Little | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
QB Shea Patterson | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
DT Benito Jones | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
RB Justin Connor | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
RB Jaylon Jones | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
WR DeKaylin Metcalf | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
WR Tre Nixon | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
DE Charles Wiley | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
TE Gabe Angel | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
TE Octavious Cooley | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
OT Bryce Mathews | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
RB D'Vaughn Pennamon | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
LB David Luafatasaga | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
OT Royce Newman | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
S Greg Eisworth | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
DB Myles Hartsfield | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
OL Chandler Tuitt | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
OL Jack DeFoor | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
LB Donta Evans | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
C Eli Johnson | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
RB Jarrion Street | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
DE Tariqious Tisdale | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |