3-star WR Demarcus Gregory signs with Ole Miss

Jacob Peeler has been known as a headhunter on the recruiting trail during his time at Cal in which he beat out Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame for U.S. Army All-American and top-15 wide receiver Demetris Robertson. And now he’s proven it once again by landing wide receiver Demarcus Gregory.

Gregory, a three-star product from the same high school that produced former South Carolina All-American Marcus Lattimore, announced his top five schools at the end of April that included the Rebels with Florida, N.C. State, Tennessee and West Virginia, but Peeler ultimately won out with the No. 73-ranked receiver and was able to land a commitment from him back in May.

Now, he has signed in the early signing period and we are officially off and running in the 2018 class.

The Palmetto State recruit also holds offers from Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wake Forest, West Virginia and Wisconsin. As a junior at James Byrnes High School, the No. 5 player in the Palmetto State finished with 61 receptions, 652 yards and seven touchdowns.

How does he fit in?

The 6’3, 196-pounder from Duncan, S.C. looks poised to be the next big target for Ole Miss, following in the footsteps of Donte Moncrief, Laquon Treadwell. Damore’ea Stringfellow, A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf. It’s remarkable how much Gregory looks like these former and current Rebels coming out of his breaks and running in the openfield. His large frame and long stride will serve Ole Miss well in the coming years and the sky's the limit under the tutelage of Peeler.

The timing for Gregory could not be better. Not only is Ole Miss losing Markell Pack after 2017, but Phil Longo’s offense is one that will routinely utilize as many as eight receivers per game. Gregory’s size is a mismatch nightmare for defensive back coaches and he could be a legitimate red zone target for Shea Patterson.

Demarcus will be someone who will win his fair share of 50-50 balls and can use his frame to shield off defenders and beat smaller corners. I look for Gregory to make an impact early due to his knack for getting open and having natural length.

Despite a knee injury and missing his entire senior season, Gregory stayed committed despite several suitors approaching him (North Carolina and South Carolina) to stay closer to home. He has been rehabbing all year and looks poised to be the next big-time dude in Phil Longo’s offense.

He already looks like a Damore’ea Stringfellow clone. And he played a big role in convincing four-star quarterback Matt Corral and four-star Elijah Moore to choose Ole Miss. So, yeah, this is a big get in more ways than one.

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