3-star DL Patrick Lucas commits to Ole Miss

Last season’s recruiting cycle saw defensive line coach Freddie Roach invade the Yellowhammer State and sign six Alabama natives. This year’s cycle has not been as flush, but Roach has now added two from the Yellowhammer State now.

Joining four-star defensive end/outside linebacker Sam Williams as the Alabama residents in the 2019 class is three-star defensive tackle Patrick Lucas, who has decided to end his recruitment and commit to Ole Miss after being heavily pursued by several Power 5 programs.

The Wetumpka, Ala. native chose to leave his home state and head West to Ole Miss over pursuits by Auburn, Florida, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCF, and Vanderbilt among others.

The No. 38 defensive tackle in the country transferred from Prattville High School to Wetumpka after his junior year, recording 58 tackles, five sacks and 15 quarterback hurries. Lucas earned second-team Class 7A all-state honors last year and will join a Wetumpka team that finished runner-up in Class 6A in 2017. The top 20 player in Alabama visited Oxford multiple times this summer to camp and to unofficially meet with coaches and current players.

The Rebs are now 14th overall in the country and 6th in the Southeastern Conference in the 247Sports Team Rankings and are now sitting at 23 verbal commitments.

How does he fit in?

The 6’3, 280-pounder is a nimble giant in the trenches. He played both inside and outside for the Lions last season but will more than likely find himself on the interior replacing Benito Jones. Lucas has an excellent first step and can beat you in multiple ways. On the outside, he can speed rush by a tackle with a swift swim move or he can bull rush in between a guard and tackle and make plays on inside runs.

He uses his eyes and hands well on play action and pass plays, reading the quarterback and getting lateral to pursuit the football. Patrick’s motor is endless and he is going to be someone who will find himself playing early and often for Roach and Wesley McGriff’s defense. He tends to come out of his stance a tad bit high, but he possesses a strong push and an impressive leg drive in one-on-one battles with offensive guards that will serve as a nice base for Roach to work with once he arrives in Oxford.

The newest Rebel will join forces with rising sophomore Sincere David and fellow 2019 signee Tariqious Tisdale to be strongholds on the interior along with 2018 signees Jalen Cunningham, Hal Northern, K.D. Hill, Quentin Bivens, and Noah Jefferson. The aforementioned is listed as a weak-side defensive end but will more than likely be used as a linebacker as well.

Highlights