Ole Miss football recruiting: The visitors list for the first official visitors weekend

The dead period is finally over. It was a long and tireless time but it is no longer a nuisance for everyone to wake up and have NOTHING to read or talk about.

And Ole Miss is wasting little time stirring the proverbial recruiting pot as they are bringing in some elite names for the first weekend as we head down the stretch to National Signing Day on February 5th.

So without further ado, here is who, per sources, is in town this weekend:

5-star Zachary Evans

Overall rank: 29
Running back rank: 4
Hometown: Houston, Tex.

The all-everything running back from the Lone Star State has had a whirlwind recruitment. He was sent home from North Shore’s state title game after refusing to give up his cell phone the night before and he reportedly signed with Georgia, but they told the Under Armour All-America Game MVP “thanks, but no thanks”.

Earlier this month, Evans reportedly re-opened his recruitment after being released from his NLI from Georgia. It appears that he signed his letter of intent to play for Kirby Smart, but nothing materialized.

Now, it appears that he is down to Florida, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss, per 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong. If he does indeed show up this weekend, I expect the Rebels and new head coach Lane Kiffin to turn up the heat and try to get him to enroll early, avoiding any tampering from opposing staffs because, in doing so, would result in an NCAA violation.

Nevertheless, this would be a huge get. The 6’0, 195-pounder ran for 4,867 yards and 76 touchdown in three years and helped the Mustangs to back-to-back 6A state titles.

Florida and Texas A&M appear to be Ole Miss’ biggest competition for his services.

4-star Demon Clowney

Overall rank: 78
Weakside defensive end rank: 5
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.

Yes, that Clowney’s relative is slated to join Evans in Oxford as well and is leaning heavily to committing and enrolling early at Ole Miss. The former LSU commit burst onto Ole Miss’ recruiting radar after Kiffin reached out to St. Frances Academy assistant and former Ole Miss Rebel Wayne Dorsey about Demon’s recruitment. And now he expected to not only visit, but to commit.

The 6’5, 215-pounder is a perfect 3-4 defensive end but also has the frame to grow into a 4-3 hand in the dirt defensive end, too. Miami and Virginia were in the running for his NLI signature, but for now all signs point to the Rebels snagging the top-100 player.

4-star Henry Parrish

Overall rank: 155
Running back rank: 11
Hometown: Miami, Fla.

The other running back in town is Columbus High School’s all-time leading rusher. New running backs coach Kevin Smith has been recruiting him for some time, offering him his first ever scholarship when on staff at FAU.

The 5’9, 175-pound back from Miami was previously committed to Pittsburgh then decommitted when his recruitment started to blow up, garnering interest from Florida, Oregon, and South Carolina after his record-breaking senior year that culminated with highlight run after highlight run and an 8A state title.

As a senior, Parrish ran for 2,319 yards and 28 touchdowns. In my opinion, Parrish could be close to pulling the trigger if he enjoys his time in Oxford.

4-star Isaiah Dunson

Overall rank: N/A
Cornerback rank: 32
Hometown: Tucker, Ga.

A somewhat new name on the trail hails from the Peach State and the former Florida State commit seems to be down to the Rebels and the Texas Longhorns. The 6’2, 175-pounder is rangy and explosive in one-on-one situations and he’s also an impressive receiver on the offensive side.

And if you need any indication on how bad OIe Miss wants him, Kiffin is his primary recruiter.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As of 8:45am CST on Friday, Dunson has decided to visit Miami instead.

3-star Brady Ward

Overall rank: N/A
Offensive tackle rank: 63
Hometown: Mobile, Ala.

Ward has been uncommitted for the entirety of his recruitment and things have begun to heat up a bit with teams like Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, and Oklahoma. The All-American Bowl participant has the ideal build you want for a left tackle and under the tutelage of new offensive line coach Randy Clements, could develop and grow into a starter sooner rather than later.

He told me when Lane Kiffin was hired that he was very interested in Ole Miss and he is backing up those words by making the trek to Oxford this weekend. He’ll visit Mississippi State on January 24th and possibly Oklahoma on January 31st before making a decision, per Rebel Grove’s Neal McCready.

3-star Marcus Henderson

Overall rank: N/A
Offensive guard rank: N/A
Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.

A familiar name, Henderson’s recruitment has been a little quiet as of late. The Memphis University School athlete is versatile enough that he has been recruited on both sides of the football throughout this cycle and, per a source, Ole Miss is recruiting the 6’4, 290-pounder as a defensive tackle.

The Under Armour All-American is athletic and violent at the point of attack and that is something that Ole Miss will desperately need as they try to replace the voids up front left by Josiah Coatney and Benito Jones.

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Stay locked in here for any changes or additions throughout the weekend because remember y’all...

Recruiting never stops.