The summer months have rolled around for Ole Miss football, and while that results in a pause in practicing for the team, it also means coaches can devote extra time to try and convince the top prospects in the nation to sign with their program next spring. This first installment of a six-part look at the Rebels’ progress with the 2015 class will focus on the quarterback and running back positions.
Ole Miss addressed the running back position early by landing commitments from Rawleigh Williams III and Eric Swinney. Williams, a 5-foot-10, 205 pound back from Dallas, Texas, was the first commitment of the 2015 class for the Rebels. According to ESPN, the Rebels were the first to offer for him back in February, and despite new interest from other schools, committed to Ole Miss after visiting Oxford. Williams, who also runs track, is rated as the 47th best running back in the country according to 247 sports composite rankings.
By those same ratings, Swinney, who’s from Sandy Creek, Ga., is ranked the 12th best back. Swinney has offers from a slew of SEC schools, and was rumored to be considering Auburn and Tennessee heavily before committing to the Rebels. Swinney is currently the highest rated player the Rebels have committed in the 2015 class. At 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, Swinney is a speedy back who will look to contribute early to a crowded Ole Miss backfield.
Unlike the running back position for the Rebels’ 2015 class, the quarterback position has yet to produce any commitments. Right now, there is mutual interest between the Rebels and quarterbacks Brady Davis, Ross Trail and Gardner Minshew.
Ross Trail is the highest rated of the three prospects, and moved from Olive Branch to Wynne, Ark. for his senior season. Trail is a former Louisville commit, but reopened his recruiting after a coaching change. He is still considering Louisville, as well as Ohio State, Cincinnati, Arkansas State and Southern Miss. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Trail has good size for the collegiate level, and is listed as a pro style quarterback.
Brady Davis, who is also listed as a pro style quarterback, is 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. He transferred from New Hope to Starkville for his last year of high school. According to an interview with Rivals, Davis has offers from South Florida, Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech but is also interested in Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, among others.
Differing from the previous two players, Gardner Minshew is listed as a dual threat quarterback.Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 214 pounds, Minshew is from Brandon. In an interview with Rivals, he said Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, Memphis and Troy have all shown interest in him, and Akron and UAB have offered him a scholarship.
In the next edition, the wide receiver and tight end positions will be examined, including recent Rebel commit La’Michael Pettyway, North Panola standout Willie Hibbler and other top recruits.
