Rebels add Brown, Anderson to recruiting class

Published 12:02 pm Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Ole Miss began the day looking to add some of its top remaining targets to a group of 22 commitments that was already ranked in the top 4 nationally by every major recruiting service.

The Rebels got a good start to what they hope is a strong finish.

Starkville four-star wide receiver A.J. Brown signed with Ole Miss this morning. Brown, ranked as the state’s top receiver prospect, began the day as one of the nation’s top uncommitted recruits but chose the Rebels over Mississippi State and Alabama during a ceremony at his high school.

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The Rebels lost out on Brown’s teammate, defensive tackle Kobe Jones (Mississippi State) and Kentwood (Louisiana) four-star cornerback Shyheim Carter (Alabama), but Berkley Prep (Florida) four-star tight end Jacob Mathis and Manvel (Texas) four-star safety Deontay Anderson joined Brown as players who picked Ole Miss after starting the day undecided.

Ole Miss also held onto Manvel (Texas) four-star running back D’Vaughn Pennamon, who had been committed to the Rebels since the summer but considered offers from Texas A&M and Alabama after visiting all three schools last month. Pennamon sent out a tweet this morning that read, “It’s official I am a OleMiss Rebel,” with the school later confirming it received his signed National Letter of Intent.

As of late this morning, 15 recruits had sent in their signed letters of intent, according to the school. The first player to do so was Sandy Creek (Georgia) offensive lineman Chandler Tuitt followed by Oxford wideout D.K. Metcalf, Viera (Florida) wide receiver Tre Nixon, Calhoun (Georgia) offensive lineman Jack DeFoor, North Panola athlete Justin Connor, Lexington (Tennessee) linebacker Tariqious Tisdale, Hewitt-Trussville (Alabama) running back Jarrion Street, Brentwood Academy (Tennessee) offensive lineman Bryce Mathews, Allen (Texas) safety Jaylon Jones, Nashville (Illinois) offensive lineman Royce Newman, Laurel tight end Octavious Cooley, Mathis, Pennamon, Anderson and Brown.

The group joins Lafayette offensive lineman Eli Johnson, IMG Academy (Florida) quarterback Shea Patterson, Wayne County defensive tackle Benito Jones, Stockbrigde (Georgia) defensive end Charles Wiley, Cookeville (Tennessee) tight end Gabe Angel, South Grand Prairie (Texas) safety Greg Eisworth, Archer (Georgia) linebacker Donta Evans and East Coast Prep (Massachusetts) cornerback Myles Hartsfield, who are already enrolled.

Ole Miss is still waiting on a number of other prospects to make their decisions today, including the state’s top prospect in Noxubee County five-star defensive end Jeffery Simmons. Other top targets include Arizona Western CC defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo, North Torrance (California) linebacker Mique Juarez and St. John’s College (Maryland) defensive end Terrell Hall.

Simmons, who’s also considering Alabama, Mississippi State and Tennessee, was scheduled to announce at 11 a.m. while Kongbo, ranked as the nation’s top junior college prospect, tweeted that he’d make his announcement at 3 p.m. CT.

The new additions have the Rebels’ signing class ranked second nationally by Scout.com, second by ESPN, third by Rivals.com and fourth by 247Sports.com as of late this morning.