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JUCO DT Isaiah Iton commits to Ole Miss over Florida State and Maryland

The Rebels add an instant impact defender.

By Zach Berry
Isaiah Iton-Twitter

The much maligned Ole Miss defense received huge news now that junior college defensive tackle Isaiah Iton has verbally committed to the Rebels. The Pearland, Tex. chose to commit to Lane Kiffin over notable offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Florida State, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, Syracuse, Texas Tech, and Virginia Tech among others.

The Hutchison Community College product originally signed with Northern Colorado coming out of high school before quickly opting to transfer to the junior college in Kansas. As a freshman at Northern Colorado, he finished with 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack.

Despite not playing for the Blue Dragons this fall, Iton was able to tack on several Power 5 offers thanks in large part to a fall camp film that was put together for evaluation purposes. Since then, the junior college interior lineman has been on a ton of folks’ radar.

Iton has yet to receive an official evaluation from Rivals, but the big man from the Lone Star State appears to be an instant impact defensive lineman for coach Deke Adams the Ole Miss defense.

Iton will have three years to play two once he arrives in Oxford.

How does he fit in?

The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder flashed a ton of athleticism in high school, playing all across the defensive line. That didn’t stop at Northern Colorado and it has only become a larger part of his skill set in junior college. He has the quickness off the ball and long arms to excel on the edge, but he can also slide inside and use his brute strength and powerful punch at the point of attack to win one-on-one battles with centers and guards.

Not many current Rebel defensive linemen look like Iton. That will certainly be a welcomed sight once he gets to campus. Adams and the Rebels defense need beef in the trenches and the Hutchison Community College product brings that to campus and then some. I expect Isaiah to be a focal point of the defense in 2021.

Iton joins fellow junior college product Jamond Gordon and high schooler Jibran Hawkins in Adams’ class, giving the Rebels a solid nucleus for next season.

Highlights