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Ole Miss soccer lands commitment from an All-American and USA Today national champion

Matt Mott lands himself a five-star.

By Zach Berry
Josh McCoy-Ole Miss Athletics

Two years removed from finishing 17th nationally in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25 rankings with a 14-5-4 record (7-4 in the SEC), the Rebs took a bit of a step back in 2017. Now, head coach Matt Mott is taking a humongous step forward with the commitment from 2019 five-star midfielder Jenna Kemp.

The former Memphis commit decommitted a few weeks ago and then after officially visiting Oxford, she chose to end her recruitment and become a Rebel. The 5’8 commit chose the Rebs over offers from Alabama, Memphis, Mississippi State, and UAB. The Houston High School product was named player of the year in Tennessee by the United Soccer Coaches and First team All-Metro, All-South Region, and All-America honors as well.

Kemp comes from a high school program that is an absolute powerhouse. The Mustangs won their 8th state championship in 2017, finishing 24-0. It is their fourth title since 2010 that also coincided with an undefeated record. They have 15 consecutive state tournament appearances, 15 consecutive region championships, and 15 consecutive district championships. One of the most amazing stats is the fact that the program has spent upwards of 4,800 days as both district and region champions.

Even more amazing than that, if Kemp and the Mustangs go undefeated again, she will wrap her high school career with more state titles than losses.

Insane.

In her three years at Houston, her career record is 64-1-2, winning two state titles, two region titles, two district titles and been to another semifinal. Here’s the rest of her resume:

Freshman year

  • 7 goals scored
  • Team Rookie of the Year

Sophomore year

  • 9 goals scored, 12 assists
  • Team Midfielder of the Year
  • Best of the Preps Player of the Year semifinalist
  • All-Metro
  • All-State
  • All-South Region
  • National Rush Select nominee
  • Club team (2001 Lobos) finished 86th in the country, 14-0-6 record

Junior Year

  • 20 goals scored, 20 assists
  • All-Metro
  • All-State
  • All-South Region
  • Best of the Preps Player of the Year finalist (awaiting result)
  • Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year finalist (awaiting result)
  • Team MVP
  • USA Today All-American
  • Tennessee Player of the Year
  • USA Today National Champion

Pretty good, in my opinion.

This is a humongous pickup for the Soccersharks. It not only is a commitment from an All-American who is arguably the best player in the South, but it is a foot in the door in the most successful soccer program in the Southeast and the country right now.

Kemp will certainly be a key cog in the future of the Rebels’ program and will certainly do her best to get Mott and the Ole Miss program back to the Sweet 16. And beyond.