Portal SZN

[MSTSatchmo]

Since State didn’t get Gabriel, if they don’t land another experienced QB they need to focus on some playmakers for whoever is taking snaps.  

[coastfootballfanman]

15 minutes ago, MSTSatchmo said:

Since State didn’t get Gabriel, if they don’t land another experienced QB they need to focus on some playmakers for whoever is taking snaps.  

I honestly do not see State landing any of the high profile portal guys at QB. Take what you have and begin to build the best you can. Like you said, find some weapons to build around them. State is a team that should try and develop. Starkville is not a destination program that is going to attract the big portal guys. Development is going to be key for State going forward 

[pancho]

I'll be surprised if Blake Shapen isn't Lebby's QB next year.

[Dawg83]

16 hours ago, pancho said:

I'll be surprised if Blake Shapen isn't Lebby's QB next year.

I’m leaning that way too, though I’m keeping an eye on Ty Simpson if he hops in the portal.

[NoWammies]

Caden Prieskorn announced today he’s returning for his final season. That’s another big piece on the offensive side of the ball returning. This comes a day after Jordan Watkins announced he’s returning. Only two left to worry about now is Judkins and Harris. 

[Dawg83]

Sounds like OM has a good shot to land Juice Wells from South Carolina. Would definitely be a nice boost to that offense, if he’s indeed able to stay healthy.

 

Still think OM needs the most help on the OL and on defense. That’s the biggest difference in them and the legit contenders right now. You’re pretty much already at your ceiling unless you make notable improvements there. Only so much more that Kiffin’s offense can do beyond what they already do.

[MSTSatchmo]

I think I read OM picked up the top LB in the portal and also got the #1 JUCO LB.  They’re also in the running for a top corner. 

[NoWammies]

38 minutes ago, Dawg83 said:

Still think OM needs the most help on the OL and on defense. That’s the biggest difference in them and the legit contenders right now. You’re pretty much already at your ceiling unless you make notable improvements there. Only so much more that Kiffin’s offense can do beyond what they already do.

There were times this year when Ole Miss was down to just their #3 and #4 WR’s and the offense didn’t look the same. Depth at that position would be a good thing. I agree about the OL and defense but that’s coming in the next few days as well. 

[MSTSatchmo]

1 hour ago, NoWammies said:

There were times this year when Ole Miss was down to just their #3 and #4 WR’s and the offense didn’t look the same. Depth at that position would be a good thing.

Same thing on the OL.  They kept having to move guys around.  

[NoWammies]

Micah Pettus announced today he’s returning which is huge for the OL and the news most have been patiently waiting on happened earlier and that is Tre Harris is returning!!!

 

#1 transfer player Walter Nolen visiting this week. If Ole Miss pulls that one off I’m going to need bail money from streaking through The Square. 

[rebmus]

49 minutes ago, NoWammies said:

Micah Pettus announced today he’s returning which is huge for the OL and the news most have been patiently waiting on happened earlier and that is Tre Harris is returning!!!

 

#1 transfer player Walter Nolen visiting this week. If Ole Miss pulls that one off I’m going to need bail money from streaking through The Square. 

So far, things are going about as well as any Ole Miss fan could realistically want in the portal. 

 

Nolan would be HUGE IF Ole Miss can get him. 

[MSTSatchmo]

3 hours ago, NoWammies said:

Micah Pettus announced today he’s returning which is huge for the OL and the news most have been patiently waiting on happened earlier and that is Tre Harris is returning!!!

 

#1 transfer player Walter Nolen visiting this week. If Ole Miss pulls that one off I’m going to need bail money from streaking through The Square. 

I read somewhere that Harris and Dart announced they were returning.  Were they considering the draft or just announcing they weren’t entering the portal?  

[NoWammies]

They were considering the draft which I found kinda odd cuz Harris prob would’ve been a mid rounder possibly 3rd round and I don’t even think Dart would’ve been drafted. I do think Dart has a great opportunity to up his draft stock now with what is returning. It’s a wait and see on Harris cuz his numbers might not be high with Dart spreading the ball around to everyone. Especially if Juice Wells also signs. I’ve never understood why some guys declare for the draft knowing it’s a good chance they’ll be late round picks and possibly undrafted. With that being said tho I still don’t think Dart has officially announced he’s returning yet but he’d be crazy not to. I believe he is cuz why else would all these guys be returning without them secretly knowing something we don’t yet?

[Dawg83]

Gotta say, not as much portal buzz with State as many were hoping. It’s early still, but the names they’re in the mix for aren’t really the kind that fix things immediately. Just some depth pieces so far.

 

I think reality is starting to set in a little with the fanbase on just how much damage has been done to the program since Dan Mullen walked out the door. Mistakes and bad hires have consequences, and the bill is coming due. It’s not the fault of Selmon and Lebby that we’re here, but, well here we are. And they’re the guys that get to work through this mess.

 

I haven’t been shy on my belief that John Cohen was a bad AD that he did the football program no favors. Even the Leach era, while mostly successful on the field, was slowly eroding the talent base of the program via poor decision making by those in charge of recruiting.

 

State and Ole Miss are in two very different spots right now. We’ll see what things look like in a couple of years, but for now State people are going have to endure a straight up rebuild while its arch rival is in the best spot it’s been in for decades.

[NoWammies]

I hate to say it but State is about a year away from having a dynamic WR room with most of them being in state prospects. Sanfrisco Magee is going to be a hidden gem IMO, I believe y’all also wind up getting Burnside from Starkville then one of the top WR’s in next years class with Caleb Cunningham from Choctaw County who will eventually be playing on Sundays. 

[rebmus]

1 hour ago, NoWammies said:

They were considering the draft which I found kinda odd cuz Harris prob would’ve been a mid rounder possibly 3rd round and I don’t even think Dart would’ve been drafted. I do think Dart has a great opportunity to up his draft stock now with what is returning. It’s a wait and see on Harris cuz his numbers might not be high with Dart spreading the ball around to everyone. Especially if Juice Wells also signs. I’ve never understood why some guys declare for the draft knowing it’s a good chance they’ll be late round picks and possibly undrafted. With that being said tho I still don’t think Dart has officially announced he’s returning yet but he’d be crazy not to. I believe he is cuz why else would all these guys be returning without them secretly knowing something we don’t yet?

I've seen no projections with Dart being high, at all, in the NFL draft. He may opt for the draft but I don't see it. 

 

Juice is shopping around, as he should. Expect a bidding war for him. 

[MSTSatchmo]

42 minutes ago, Dawg83 said:

Gotta say, not as much portal buzz with State as many were hoping. It’s early still, but the names they’re in the mix for aren’t really the kind that fix things immediately. Just some depth pieces so far.

 

I think reality is starting to set in a little with the fanbase on just how much damage has been done to the program since Dan Mullen walked out the door. Mistakes and bad hires have consequences, and the bill is coming due. It’s not the fault of Selmon and Lebby that we’re here, but, well here we are. And they’re the guys that get to work through this mess.

 

I haven’t been shy on my belief that John Cohen was a bad AD that he did the football program no favors. Even the Leach era, while mostly successful on the field, was slowly eroding the talent base of the program via poor decision making by those in charge of recruiting.

 

State and Ole Miss are in two very different spots right now. We’ll see what things look like in a couple of years, but for now State people are going have to endure a straight up rebuild while its arch rival is in the best spot it’s been in for decades.

Gabriel wasn’t a highly rated QB coming out of HS if I remember correctly, so Lebby can get production out of guys that aren’t 5* QBs as long as he can get some playmakers at the skill positions and he’s a creative playcaller.  
 

Even with OM and a veteran QB and all the skill guys they have, the key is getting dudes on the OL and DL.  Getting pressure on the other team, and protecting your QB is what wins big games.   

[NoWammies]

9 minutes ago, rebmus said:

I've seen no projections with Dart being high, at all, in the NFL draft. He may opt for the draft but I don't see it. 

 

Juice is shopping around, as he should. Expect a bidding war for him. 

One positive we have with Juice is he stuck around this past weekend longer than most expected and cancelled his Texas visit cuz of it. One negative is does all these guys returning and signing Smith cause him to go elsewhere due to WR group being stacked? 

[MSTSatchmo]

13 minutes ago, NoWammies said:

One positive we have with Juice is he stuck around this past weekend longer than most expected and cancelled his Texas visit cuz of it. One negative is does all these guys returning and signing Smith cause him to go elsewhere due to WR group being stacked? 

Being “the man” does seem to be high on most WRs list.  Lol.  More so than any other position. 

[NoWammies]

Ole Miss does have 3 high school commits on the OL/DL if stay committed that will come in and should be put into the mix right away to add depth. 
Kamarion Franklin-4 star UA All American DL

William Echoles-4 star OL 

Kamron Beavers-4 star DL

 

Couple other guys on the line that are currently crystal balled to sign with Ole Miss either out of high school or transferring in that’ll be put into the mix.

Gerquan Scott-USM-6’4 300 lb OT 

Kavion Broussard-6’6 270 OT suppose to flip from Miami 

I keep reading and hearing everywhere that Golding is loading up so I’m patiently waiting to see what the end result is going to be once all signing is done. I like what we have done and predicted to do with the LB group and secondary so far. 

 

 

[NoWammies]

1 hour ago, MSTSatchmo said:

Being “the man” does seem to be high on most WRs list.  Lol.  More so than any other position. 

 Very true and you’d think you’d want some guys opposite of you to help get the focus off of you to where you can get open easier. 

[Dawg83]

9 hours ago, NoWammies said:

I hate to say it but State is about a year away from having a dynamic WR room with most of them being in state prospects. Sanfrisco Magee is going to be a hidden gem IMO, I believe y’all also wind up getting Burnside from Starkville then one of the top WR’s in next years class with Caleb Cunningham from Choctaw County who will eventually be playing on Sundays. 

I could definitely see 2024 being like Mullen or Leach’s first year when State had a ton of freshmen on the field.

[MSTSatchmo]

8 hours ago, NoWammies said:

 

I keep reading and hearing everywhere that Golding is loading up so I’m patiently waiting to see what the end result is going to be once all signing is done. I like what we have done and predicted to do with the LB group and secondary so far. 

 

 

I’m still skeptical on Golding.  He not only had top talent, but talented depth too at Bama and he had good but not great defenses during his time there.  However, the more talent you have the better.  

[Former Coach]

12 hours ago, NoWammies said:

I’ve never understood why some guys declare for the draft knowing it’s a good chance they’ll be late round picks and possibly undrafted.

I agree with you here. My two thoughts are that they let to many people get in there head instead of just submitting paperwork to the NFL and getting a rating, or they feel at worst they can make a practice squad, and that pays $216,000 a year, better than most jobs start at.

Too many enter realistically having no chance of getting drafted and hoping for a free agent contract to give them a chance for practice squad.

[Dawg83]

1 hour ago, Former Coach said:

I agree with you here. My two thoughts are that they let to many people get in there head instead of just submitting paperwork to the NFL and getting a rating, or they feel at worst they can make a practice squad, and that pays $216,000 a year, better than most jobs start at.

Too many enter realistically having no chance of getting drafted and hoping for a free agent contract to give them a chance for practice squad.

I think some of it is also that guys just get burnt out on having to go to class eventually.