Ole Miss recruiting: Can the Rebels snag 4-star RB Cordarrian Richardson?

Ole Miss whiffed on five-star Cam Akers last month, but suddenly has the opportunity to chase another top-flight running. Four-star Memphis native Cordarrian Richardson decommitted from Clemson on December 23rd and has opened things back up to possible suitors. The 5’11, 220-pound back told Scout’s Yancy Porter that he will visit Oxford next weekend.

His 247Sports Crystal Ball has Florida State and Michigan State in the lead (both at 33 percent), but the Noles already have three running back commitments in their 2017 class and another in 2018. And Michigan State isn’t exactly a quick drive up the road from Memphis so distance could possibly play a factor.

After visiting Oxford, the nation’s No. 6 running back will close out his official visits with a trip to Oregon the last weekend before National Signing Day. Richardson was a workhorse during his last two seasons at Trezevant High School, running for 4,030 yards on 446 carries and scoring 29 touchdowns.

Will a linebacker prospect flip from Wake Forest?

Three-star inside linebacker Jeffery Burley has been committed to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons since July, but has been speaking favorably of Ole Miss on Twitter. The No. 46 inside linebacker in the country had a promising back and forth with current Ole Miss linebacker commit Josh Clarke during the Egg Bowl. And after Ole Miss secured a commitment from four-star Under Armour All-American Breon Dixon, Burley slid into in his mentions about the potential opportunity of playing alongside him in Oxford.

The 6’2, 208-pounder could be thinking twice about his Wake Forest commitment after Notre Dame hired away the Deamon Deacon’s linebackers coach, Clark Lea. That came on the heels of that same 4-8 Irish team hiring Wake’s defensive coordinator, Mike Elko. Could the big man from Jackson, Ga. be rethinking his college destination now that the Rebs have rounded out their defensive staff? Burley will take his official visit to Oxford the last weekend before NSD.

Ole Miss is trying to snag a Houston decommit.

Three-star inside linebacker Mohamed Sanogo has been pledged to Houston since June, but he tweeted last week that he will be opening his recruitment back up. The No. 16 inside backer’s most notable offers are from Baylor and Boise State, but the Rebs are certainly in the mix.

In an interview with the Clarion-Ledger, Sanogo said that “Ole Miss is definitely way, way up there for me.”

“They need a big, hard-hitting true (middle linebacker),” he continued. “They want a big guy who could close those holes and stop running backs in the SEC. They said I will have the opportunity to play as a freshman if I work for it. That was very eye-opening.”

The 6’2, 239-pounder also told the C-L that while on his official visit, he’ll inquire about the looming NCAA investigation and see how that would possibly affect him.

The Rebs offered a 3-star receiver.

JaVonta Payton is a 6’1, 170-pound wide receiver from Nashville, Tenn. The No. 83 wide receiver in the 2017 class was extended an offer last Saturday and could be a name to watch down the stretch. Despite flying under the radar a bit, Payton holds offers from Kentucky, Memphis, Purdue and Tennessee. At Hillsboro High School, he did it all. He collected 936 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns.

A 2019 athlete has the SEC’s attention already.

Ole Miss was the first to offer Lafayette High School’s Brandon Turnage back in November, but it already looks like they are going to have to fend off just about everyone for this guy. The 6’1, 180-pound athlete from Oxford quickly received offers from Mississippi State and LSU in December and January shortly after.

The local product was an integral part of the Commodores state championship run in 2016. Turnage had 54 tackles and seven interceptions as a sophomore and is almost certainly going to be receiving more and more scholarship offers in the near future. Ole Miss has the early lead according to his Crystal Ball but 2019 is a long way away.