Many fans felt that National Signing Day this past February could not have gone better for the Ole Miss Rebels. However, it could have, and now one of their near misses has led to an investigation of the program.
In a sharp departure from its usual performance, the Ole Miss Rebels were the toast of the recruiting world, landing elite recruits like Robert Nkemdiche, Laremy Tunsil, and Laquon Treadwell. Nevertheless, Hugh Freeze and company missed on two major prospects: Elijah Daniel who flipped to Auburn on Signing Day and Chris Jones who opted to stick with Mississippi State despite overtures from the hotter in-state program.
It is Jones and his recruitment that is now giving the Rebels trouble.
The NCAA has interviewed Jones, who is preparing for playing time this fall for the Bulldogs, about the manner that his new rival recruited him. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, Jones’ high school coach, and his mother all indicated that they were unaware of the reasoning behind the investigation.
Rumors of irregularities surrounded the Ole Miss program through much of the recruiting cycle. However, it was unclear whether the source of most of that scuttlebutt was due to the unexpected success they experienced and sour grapes from more high profile programs used to getting those highly ranked recruits.
It appears the NCAA is intent on finding out.