Predicting Ole Miss’ 2025 recruiting class, v1
As summer approaches and official visits start happening, let’s take a crack at predicting who Ole Miss will sign in the 2025 class. The Rebels have been and always will be active in the NCAA Transfer Portal. But, the high school class is just as if not more important for the future of the program.
Here is my first version of a class prediction. This will include current commits as well. And just to give you an idea for some of the names on the list, I am not entering a Recruiting Prediction Machine pick for everyone. These prospects are just who, as of today, I think could end up signing with Ole Miss on signing day.
EDITOR’S NOTE: There will be some bold takes in here and some frisky predictions. Proceed with caution.
QUARTERBACK
4-star Deuce Knight (Notre Dame commit) – No. 50
OR
4-star Keelon Russell (SMU commit) – No. 75
This is still going to be a tall order with his connections to the Metroplex and long standing relationship with Rhett Lashlee. But, who are we to doubt Lane Kiffin when it comes to quarterbacks, right? The two targets at the position are Russell and Notre Dame commit Deuce Knight so I picked one. This could go two ways, the Rebels could see Russell as a more ready-made product who can come in and immediately compete. Or, the staff banks on Knight’s potential ceiling being higher due to the elite athleticism.
I think Ole Miss lands one of the two in this class.
2025 four-star QB Deuce Knight (Photo credit: Deuce Knight/Instagram)
RUNNING BACK
4-star Akylin Dear – No. 33 (OLE MISS COMMIT)
Dear is going to take some visits and enjoy the process, but he will sign with Ole Miss. The staff views him as a cornerstone piece for the future and the Rebels will do whatever it takes to sign him.
4-star Jamarion Morrow – No. 324
The reigning Nashville Under Armour Next Camp running back MVP has been trending to the Rebels for a while now. Enrique Davis and Kevin Smith have done a phenomenal job of pitching the “running back by committee” style to Morrow and he has been incredibly receptive to it. I also think he wants to stay relatively close to home and Germantown, Tenn., is just a hop, skip and a jump from Oxford. My RPM pick is in for him to pick Ole Miss.
3-star Shekai Mills-Knight – No. 559
Me thinks this ranking will be very different in December. The Canadian arrived in Chattanooga and quickly established himself as a key cog in the Baylor School (Tenn.) attack. Davis and Smith, once again, have done a nice job of selling coming to Ole Miss and playing alongside Dear and Morrow. Mills-Knight is set to officially visit this summer with his parents who are making the trip down from Montréal, Quebec. I think Ole Miss goes for the close then and gets it done.
Ole Miss RB target Jamarion Morrow (Photo credit: Zach Berry-On3)
WIDE RECEIVER
5-star Caleb Cunningham – No. 13
Yes, I know. It’s a “long shot” and Mississippi State has all the momentum since Jeff Lebby was hired. But, this is one of those hot takes I was talking about. I think the 2024 season Ole Miss is going to have will impact this one in a big way. Kiffin’s personal recruitment of Cunningham paired with Tre Harris having a day one type season will be enough to upset the rival Bulldogs.
4-star Winston Watkins Jr. – No. 175
I am really close to entering in an RPM prediction for Watkins. He transferred from IMG Academy (Fla.) to First Baptist Academy (Fla.) in order to be closer to family. And he had a big-time season once he settled in. The pitch for him to come in and be another Elijah Moore for Kiffin resonates and then some.
“Ole Miss is one of the schools I am talking to and they have a good chance of landing me.”
4-star Jerome Myles – No. 181 (OLE MISS COMMIT)
Myles committed to the Rebels earlier this month after an injury-shortened season. But, the frame and skill set are off the charts. He figures to be a big part of the future at wide receiver and is tight with Ole Miss quarterback, Jaxson Dart.
4-star Dillon Alfred – No. 345 (OLE MISS COMMIT)
The former Mississippi resident transferred to Saraland (Ala.) for his junior season. Alfred is keen on Ole Miss’ history of developing receivers and getting them to the NFL. I expect this one to stick and he will sign with the Rebels.
First Baptist Academy Lions receiver Winston Watkins Jr. (5) runs the ball upfield during the third quarter of the Class 1S state semifinal against the Trinity Catholic Celtics at First Baptist Academy in Naples on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.
TIGHT END
3-star Hayden Bradley – No. 766 (OLE MISS COMMIT)
Ole Miss prioritized Bradley early on and beat out Georgia Tech, Michigan and South Carolina for his commitment in April. He is solid and I expect him to sign with the Rebels. Heck of a job by new tight ends coach Joe Cox.
Photo by Chad Simmons/On3
OFFENSIVE LINE
4-star Carius Curne – No. 88
After decommitting from Arkansas, most expected him to quickly announce for LSU. But, it never happened. Since then, Ole Miss has done a great job of prioritizing him and making him feel like a top target. I think it will be a battle down to the wire, but I like Ole Miss to land Curne when it’s all said and done.
4-star Mario Nash – No. 270
Another upset being called here. Mississippi State has all the buzz, but I like Ole Miss to get it done. Nash will officially visit June 7 and I think the Rebels will continue to chip away at MSU’s lead.
4-star Henry Fenuku – No. 363
Fenuku recently visited Ole Miss and the returns were extremely positive. John Garrison has a plan for him and he likes it. Ohio State and Southern Cal have joined the race and will make this one difficult, but I like where Ole Miss is after talking with Fenuku.
Ole Miss IOL target Carius Curne (Photo credit: Carius Curne-X)
DEFENSIVE LINE
4-star Malik Autry – No. 108 (Auburn commit)
Going with my gut here. I spoke with Autry after his visit to Ole Miss earlier this spring and there was certainly something there. He has a great relationship with Randall Joyner and he is really into what Kiffin is building. Auburn is going to be really tough to beat, but I will take a chance on this one and call for the flip.
4-star Andrew Maddox – No. 129
This one seems like the worst kept secret in the 2025 class. His brother is on the roster and his dad goes WAY back with Pete Golding. My pick is in for Maddox to commit to Ole Miss and it could be sooner rather than later.
4-star Reginald Vaughn – No. 375
Speaking of Joyner, Vaughn is close with the Ole Miss defensive line coach. The in-state pull is real here and I think he will commit and sign with the Rebels.
3-star Corey Amos – No. 411 (OLE MISS COMMIT)
Amos is being recruited as an EDGE and I expect him to sign with the Rebels. Joyner and Golding have done a fantastic job with him early. Barring a late push from LSU, I think Ole Miss gets him to campus.
3-star Talib Graham – No. 496 (OLE MISS COMMIT)
Like Amos, Ole Miss received a commitment from Graham in the spring. He is originally from Arizona and boasts a unique skill set for a prospect who is 6-foot-2, 235 pounds.
2025 Ole Miss DL target Malik Autry (Photo credit: Malik Autry-Instagram)
LINEBACKER
4-star Elijah Melendez – No. 168 (Miami commit)
Relationships typically win out when recruiting races are close. And Smith has a tight relationship with Melendez. He has been committed to the Hurricanes for a long time, but I am calling my shot here and saying he will flip to the Rebels at some point this fall.
4-star Jarcoby Hopson – No. 178 (OLE MISS COMMIT)
This one is not getting away. Golding will make sure of it. Book it.
3-star Bradley Ilunga-Bisselele – N/A
There are a lot of folks in Ilunga-Bisselele’s corner who want him to pick Ole Miss. His high school teammate, Mills-Knight, and current Ole Miss Rebel and former Baylor School prospect, Brycen Sanders, want him to pick the Rebels. I think the staff being one of the first Power 4 programs to offer him will win out in the end.
Ole Miss LB target Elijah Melendez (Photo credit: Elijah Melendez)
CORNERBACK
3-star Maison Dunn – No. 683 (OLE MISS COMMIT)
Another early in the process evaluation for the staff. Dunn will stick with Ole Miss, no drama.
SAFETY
4-star Ladarian Clardy – No. 207
This one has been tough to read, but I like the vibes here, per sources. Ole Miss hosted him in March and will be looking to lock it down during his official visit in June.
4-star Keon Young – No. 237
Another one which has been tough to read but the vibes are high. The Top 3 of Kentucky, Ole Miss and South Florida should be one the Rebels can navigate with ease. Young is slated to officially this weekend and could be on commitment watch.
Photo by Chad Simmons/On3
ATHLETE
3-star Jaylon Parnell – No. 882
Parnell plays linebacker for Pascagoula (Miss.) and he received an offer from Golding earlier this year. The Rebels are big on adding versatile pieces who can play fast at different positions. The 5-foot-11, 235 pounder can do this.
3-star Jhase Thomas – No. 1152
The Ole Miss legacy is a former teammate of 2024 signee Anthony Robinson. The pull to follow in his family’s footsteps is big here and Golding’s ties to Louisiana are crucial. If he continues to take visits to Oxford, I expect him to sign with the Rebels in the end. My RPM pick has been entered.
Ole Miss ATH target Jhase Thomas (Photo credit: Jhase Thomas-Instagram)
The post Predicting Ole Miss’ 2025 recruiting class, v1 appeared first on On3.
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