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3-star DT Israel Antwine commits to Ole Miss

Hugh Freeze adds another interior lineman to the 2018 class.

By Zach Berry
Student Sports

Defensive line coach Freddie Roach might be new to Hugh Freeze’s staff since arriving in Oxford earlier this year, but he has already hit the ground running in order to prove his worth on the recruiting trail. And now he has gotten himself another commitment, this time it’s from three-star defensive lineman Israel Antwine.

Antwine, a defensive tackle from Oklahoma, has recently received offers from multiple Power 5 schools, but ultimately decided to end his recruitment altogether Wednesday evening. The Millwood High School product committed to Ole Miss over offers from Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas Tech among others.

The Oklahoma City native joins fellow three-star 2018 commitments Quentin Bivens and Blaine Scott as the sole members of the 2018 class. But, if momentum continues to pick up and the NCAA response is received with a favorable judgment, then things could possibly really get going for Freeze and his staff.

The No. 66 defensive tackle in the country was a first-team selection on The Oklahoman’s All-State team, anchoring a stiff defense that helped the Millwood Falcons go 14-0 and claim the 2A state title last season. He had 69 tackles and six sacks as a junior.

How does he fit in?

The 6’3, 286-pounder possesses a frame that gives Freddie Roach some flexibility once he arrives in Oxford. The Oklahoma defensive tackle looks to be a strong kid who has an explosive first step and the length you want to be able to fight through centers and guards on the interior while also having the quickness and size to get past tackles on the exterior. If I had to guess, Antwine will stay inside and follow in the long line of quick-twitch defensive tackles that Ole Miss seems to get every year (i.e. Isaac Gross, Robert Nkemdiche, D.J. Jones, Benito Jones).

Antwine will need to get stronger and refine some technique before putting on the red and blue, but keep in mind he still has an entire senior season and two summers to get bigger, stronger and faster. And he will have Paul Jackson to work with when he gets to OIe Miss. Once he arrives, Israel has the build and the athleticism to make some things happen in Wesley McGriff’s 4-3 defense.

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