Horn Lake linebacker Nakobe Dean is one of the best players in the country, but is also a dedicated student. Mackenzie Salmon, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Welcome to the beginning of the early signing period. Many of the top players in Mississippi will sign on Wednesday. Join us as the Clarion Ledger provides updates in real-time on all of Mississippi’s top high school football recruits, including Horn Lake’s Nakobe Dean, considered the best inside linebacker in the country.
We’ll also have updates on the recruiting classes coming together at Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss. Let’s have some fun, shall we?
Below the feed, we have a growing list of signees at each of the state’s three major colleges.
Brevyn Jones: A three-star offensive lineman who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs about 261 pounds from Birmingham, Alabama.
Charles Cross: Thought of by coaches as the best offensive lineman in Mississippi high school football this season, Cross ranks as the No. 5 overall prospect in the state and No. 95 in the country.
Fred Peters: A three-star safety, Peters is the third defensive back from Jones County Junior College to sign today, but he’s the first to pick Mississippi State. He is considered the No. 2 junior college prospect in the state.
LaQuinston Sharp: A big signing for the Bulldogs here. Sharp won two junior college national championships at East Mississippi. At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, he is considered the No. 2 juco offensive guard in the country.
Lee Witherspoon: A three-star running back from Stevenson, Alabama. Witherspoon had 2,846 rushing yards and 53 rushing touchdowns as a senior.
King Ani Izuchukwu: This 6-foot-4 defensive end from Nashville, Tennessee, is considered a four-star recruit, and he may have the best name in college football.
Nick Pendley: A two-time All-State honoree in Georgia, Pendley ranks as a three-star offensive lineman.
Garrett Shrader: The Bulldogs’ quarterback of the future? This four-star recruit from Charlotte, North Carolina, stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 215 pounds. He won two state championships in high school.
More: Why Mississippi State signee Garrett Shrader could be the Bulldogs’ QB of the future
Jack Harris: A 6-foot-2, three-star defensive end out of Oak Grove made 73 tackles this season, 12 for a loss.
Jarrian Jones: The No. 14 overall player in Mississippi.
More: Northwest Rankin’s Jarrian Jones signs with Mississippi State
Javeious Purvis: Pelahatchie’s star played all over the field in high school, but he’ll stay in the secondary in Starkville.
Quinton Torbor: A three-star wide receiver from Destrehan, Louisiana.
Reece McIntyre: 6-foot-5, three-star offensive tackle from Buford, Georgia.
Jeremy James: Three-star offensive lineman from Cumming, Georgia.
Dannis Jackson: One of the top players in Mississippi, Jackson sent in his NLI this morning. He’s a four-star wide receiver who was selected for the Dandy Dozen.
More: Sumrall’s Dannis Jackson signs with Ole Miss
Carter Colquitt: The other 6-foot-5, three-star offensive tackle from Buford, Georgia.
Grant Tisdale: The second quarterback recruit in this class, Tisdale signed out of Allen, Texas. Tisdale is a three-star recruit considered the No. 14 dual-threat quarterback in the country.
A.J. Finley: A three-star safety from Mobile, Alabama.
Jalen Jordan: The first signee from inside the state, a three-star corner from Lake Cormorant.
Darius Thomas: The highest-rated offensive lineman to sign with Ole Miss since Greg Little.
More: Four-star offensive tackle Darius Thomas signs with Ole Miss
Kinkead Dent: Jackson Acadmey’s starting quarterback, a three-star recruit who plans to enroll in January.
Jordan Jernigan: Ole Miss continues to rack up signings in the early morning, this one from a three-star Tupelo wide receiver who had been committed for more than a year.
Jamar Richardson: A three-star cornerback from Jones County Junior College.
Bryce Ramsey: A three-star, 336-pound offensive guard from Harrison Central gives the Rebels four offensive linemen in this class.
Sam Williams: One of the most productive pass rushers of the 2018 junior college season will make the cross-state trip from Northeast Mississippi to Oxford.
More: Ole Miss’ highest-rated defensive commitment signed on Wednesday
Caleb Warren: One of the most talented linemen in Mississippi high school football this season, the three-star tackle led Nanih Waiya to its first state championship.
Nick Broeker: This offensive lineman is a three-star tackle from Springfield, Illinois.
Jonathan Haynes: The second three-star defensive back from Jones County JC to sign with Ole Miss today.
Eric Jeffries: From nearby Lafayette High School in Oxford, a three-star outside linebacker.
More: Eric Jeffries explains why he chose to sign with Ole Miss
Jadon Jackson: Yet another three-star recruit for Ole Miss today, Jackson gives the Rebels a 6-foot-1 wide receiver from Centerton, Arkansas.
Jay Stanley: The three-star safety/outside linebacker racked up 129 tackles this season.
More: Brandon’s Jay Stanley speaks after signing early with Ole Miss
Ashanti Cistrunk: One of the top linebackers within the state this season, Cistrunk stuck with his pledge to Ole Miss. He will enroll early.
Patrick Lucas: A three-star defensive tackle from Wetumpka, Alabama, who picked Ole Miss over Auburn and Florida.
Deantre Prince: The Rebels get a 6-foot-1, three-star defensive back from Charleston, Mississippi.
Tavario Standifer: A First-Team All-State selection as a junior, this Tupelo safety comes in as a three-star recruit.
Dontario Drummond: Previously uncommitted, Drummond played last season at East Mississippi. He ranks a three-star wide receiver, the No. 7 junior college prospect in the state.
Tre Johnson: A 6-foot-7 offensive tackle from Iowa Western Community College who signed with Miami before he transferred.
Naricuss Driver: A tight end from Highland Community College.
Luke Baker: This 6-foot-5, three-star tight end hails from Naples, Florida.
Matt Ryals: An offensive tackle from Purvis, making him the first in-state signee.
Louis Smith: D’Iberville’s three-star center will play close to home.
Dequan Scott: Yet another offensive lineman, this one from Mobile, Alabama.
Dee Baker: One of the fastest players in Mississippi high school football this season, Baker played at Northwest Rankin.
Swayze Bozeman: A 6-foot-3 outside linebacker from Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
Eriq Kitchen: Golden Eagles get a two-star defensive end who played at East Mississippi this year.
Khalique Washington: Southern Miss has signed a handful of junior college players today. The next is Washington, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive tackle from Dodge City CC.
Markel McLaurin: An athlete from Collins High School who once ran a 4.4 40-yard dash.
Tanner Hawthorne: A three-star offensive tackle from Glendale Community College as Southern Miss continues to add juco offensive linemen.
Coker Wright: Brookhaven’s three-star guard played defensive line this year, but he’ll play on the offensive side in college.
Khan Leonard: From Texas Preparatory Academy, a 6-foot-3 cornerback.
T.Q. Newsome: Newsome gained 2,844 yards and scored 33 touchdowns as a quarterback at Gulfport this season.
Chris Scruggs, Jr.: Here, a three-star wide receiver from Clearwater, Florida, who picked Southern Miss over offers from Kentucky and Florida, among others.
Chandler Rogers: Someone who can provide stability at the quarterback position, perhaps? The first true quarterback to sign with Southern Miss today, Rogers comes in as a three-star dual-threat from Mansfield, Texas.
Antavious Willis: Uncommitted and without offers not long before signing day, the Velma Jackson athlete led the state in rushing touchdowns with 31.
Jaden Johnson: Another option at quarterback here. A three-star recruit from Memphis, Rogers signed with Southern Miss over offers from Louisville and Memphis, among others.
