3-star ATH Jabari Small commits to Ole Miss over Arkansas and Michigan

It took long enough but at long last, the Ole Miss Rebels finally made the call that Jabari Small had been waiting on for close to three years.

The three-star athlete from Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tenn. received a message from Ole Miss running backs coach Derrick Nix a few months ago and then spoke with head coach Matt Luke on the phone. And he received the news he had been waiting on for so long.

He was offered a scholarship to go play for his father’s alma mater, the University of Mississippi.

And now, just a few months removed from that call, he is committed to his father’s alma mater.

The nation’s No. 10 all-purpose back out of the Bluff City committed to the Rebels and is now a member of Luke’s 2020 recruiting class. The state’s No. 22 player has a bevy of Power 5 offers that he sifted through before making the call to be a Rebel, just like his father, former Rebel receiver Eddie Small, did back in the 90’s.

Jabari currently holds notable offers from Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and West Virginia.

In his junior season, the newest Rebel commit used his 4.58 speed to run for 1,118 yards and 12 touchdowns while also being a threat out of the backfield as well, snagging 21 receptions for 244 yards and three more touchdowns. The aforementioned 40-yard dash speed is an asset on special teams as well, running a kickoff back in 2018.

How does he fit in?

Small isn’t exactly the biggest guy, but at 5’10 and 195-pounds he’s not tiny either. He has better than good speed and can make you miss in the open field. I anticipate him being used by Rich Rodriguez in the form of Noel Devine. He will be a weapon in the backfield on zone read schemes while also being a big part of the screen game as well.

I also think that he can be flexed out into the slot and be a weapon there as well, utilizing his quickness to get separation from linebackers and bigger, slower safeties. He honestly reminds me a little of former 2019 Ole Miss target and Memphis prospect Eric Gray. He is stronger than you think, shedding would-be tacklers, and can wiggle out of a small space with relative ease. He is a patient runner at the point of attack and can put a foot in the ground and get going in a hurry.

This is a really nice pick up for the Rebs because of his versatility and also because most think that he is a key signee if Ole Miss is wanting to have more success in the city of Memphis in this year’s class.

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