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For the longest time most believed that Jerrion Ealy wasn’t going to be a factor at Ole Miss. Mostly because everyone assumed he would be taken early in the 2019 MLB Draft. Then, it was because he decommitted in order to officially visit Clemson.
But, all that was just a proverbial smoke signal for Ealy’s arrival in Oxford. Now that he is on campus and preparing for the August 31st opener in Memphis against the Tigers, the hype is beginning to build. The former No. 29 overall player in the 2019 class chose the Rebels over the aforementioned Clemson Tigers, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and just about everyone else in Power 5 football.
He was an integral part of Jackson Prep (Miss.) winning four state titles during his time in Flowood and now is charged with hopefully being an integral part of turning around the Ole Miss football program. That’s what he was signed for after all.
And in Rich Rodriguez’s offense, he is poised to explode in 2019. Sure, Ole Miss has Scottie Phillips, but Ealy is talented enough to get plenty of touches and make a difference in 2019. A big of difference that could earn him Freshman All-American honors.
Here’s how he proved that in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game...
He’s not just a speed guy.
Jerrion is popular for being the fastest guy in Perfect Game history, running a 6.13 60-yard dash at the 2018 national prospect showcase, but he’s much more than that on the football field. He is more than capable of running between the tackles and delivering a punch at the point of attack.
He not only sheds an arm tackle at the line of scrimmage, but he gets through the second level and lowers the boom on some poor sap coming up from the secondary. This will be something that will be beneficial in 2019 when he is giving Phillips a breather and will also be an asset when trying to keep the chains moving.
His lateral quickness is elite.
Naturally it’s not crazy to think that someone who is a 6.13 60-yard dash runner and a 4.40 40-yard dash guy is going to have some decent lateral quickness, but this dude has got some wiggle. In last year’s All-American Game in Orlando against the nation’s best there was plenty of evidence in regards to this.
On a 2nd-and-1 draw play, Ealy takes the hand off, hops to his left to avoid a bull-rushing defensive tackle, and then turns it into a 15-yard gain without breaking a sweat.
This is the type of ability that will help him adjust to the speed of SEC football. Ole Miss is breaking in four new starters up front and, sure, there will be speed bumps so what better way to help level the playing field with an offensive line learning on the fly than an elite running back who can make something out of nothing?
I say that’s a fantastic thing to have in your college football pantry.
The breakaway speed is unmatched.
I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t wait for the first time Ealy breaks into the open field. The guy can flat out pick them up and put them down. He can make one cut at the line, dip a shoulder, and it’s off to the races boys and girls and SPOILER ALERT, he won’t be caught.
In the UAAAG, he had an opportunity to do just that. And the defense even had an angle on him!
On yet another draw play, he gets skinny in between the tackles, jump cuts to avoid a linebacker (making him look like an idiot in the process), then shifting it into 5th gear and leaving everyone in the dust.
But, the real NSFW XXX football content here is that last cut before scoring for six. The backside linebacker had an angle on him and was oh so close to getting a hand on Ealy, but then BOOM, that left foot goes into the turf and CATCH YA LATER.
I mean, it just looks effortless. One step and bye, bye, reservations for six.
This is the type of stuff that will be revolutionary for Rodriguez’s offense and will help take it to the next level. Not only to compliment Phillips in the run game, but it will take pressure off Matt Corral to do everything through the air and an elite running back will always make an offensive line look good. Thus giving them confidence as they are building confidence and camaraderie.
Freshman All-American is a steep goal, but most five-stars nowadays make an early impact. Ealy will have ample opportunities to make his presence known in 2019 and he is versatile and talented enough to do it in a variety of ways.
Ole Miss fans are going to enjoy seeing No. 9 tote the football for the next few years and he has a chance to go down as one of the best to ever run in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.