Loganville, GA (Sports Network) - Mississippi landed the top prize of the 2013
recruiting class on National Signing Day, with heralded defensive end Robert
Nkemdiche announcing he will play for the Rebels on Wednesday.
Nkemdiche, considered the nation's No. 1 overall prospect by Rivals.com and
several other scouting services, chose Ole Miss over fellow SEC members LSU
and Florida during an early morning press conference held at the auditorium of
Grayson High School in Loganville, GA.
The signing of Nkemdiche, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound 18-year-old, a two-time High
School All-American who amassed 43 sacks during his prep career, kicked off
what's shaping up as a banner day for the rising Ole Miss program. The Rebels
will also be bringing in two other five-star talents in previously undeclared
offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell to a crop
that's now rated among the 10 best in the country.
Tunsil, a native of Lake City, FL tabbed by Rivals as the best available
offensive tackle and No. 14 overall, selected Ole Miss over two-time defending
BCS champion Alabama and Georgia. Treadwell, from Crete, IL, is listed fifth
in Rivals' top 100 and the top wideout prospect.
Nkemdiche had initially verbally committed to Clemson before reopening his
recruitment in the fall. A strong factor in his selection of the Rebels,
who are coming off a 7-6 season capped by a victory in the BBVA Compass Bowl
in head coach Hugh Freeze's first year, was the presence of his older
brother, Denzel, a starting linebacker for Ole Miss who garnered several
Freshman All-America honors this past season.
Ole Miss sported the No. 9 overall recruiting class according to Rivals.
Two-time defending national champion Alabama topped the rankings, followed by
Ohio State, Florida, 2012 BCS title game participant Notre Dame and LSU.
It's the fifth time in six years that the Crimson Tide have won the Rivals.com
recruiting crown.
The Gators' haul is headlined by Tampa defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III,
No. 2 overall in Rivals' top 100. Notre Dame has received a commitment from
the nation's third-ranked player, linebacker Jaylon Smith of Fort Wayne, IN.
Defensive end and No. 4 recruit Carl Lawson of Alpharetta, GA, chose Auburn.
The top-ranked quarterback, Max Browne of Sammamish, WA, picked Southern
California.
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