OMSpirit ranks the Top 10 prospects in the state of Mississippi before the 2023 season
You blink and summer is almost over. SEC Media Days crank up next week in Nashville, Tenn., and high school football will be underway before you know it. 2024 prospects are starting to plan out late summer visits, camp schedules and commitments. But, once late August arrives it will be time to get those senior campaigns started.
Prior to Week 1 games kicking off, the OMSpirit will do its best to rank the Top 10 players inside the Magnolia State. These rankings are subject to change based on what senior recruits do or don’t do this fall.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at who made the cut for our Top 10.
1. 4-star DL Kamarion Franklin
School: Lake Cormorant (Miss.) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 37
On3 RPM: Tennessee 73.2%, Ole Miss 7.6 %, Miami 4.9%
I plan on getting an up close and personal look at the four-star prospect this fall, but the junior tape is loud. Franklin’s record-breaking junior season included 73 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and a school-record 17 sacks. He also had 48 quarterback pressures and 27 quarterback hits. The frame is elite and SEC ready and there’s no question about the motor. National analysts rave about his get-off and the Ole Miss staff covets him, making him without question its No. 1 target in the 2024 class.
2024 Ole Miss DL target Kamarion Franklin (Photo credit: Brent Wainscott-On3)
2. 4-star WR Braylon Burnside (committed to Mississippi State)
School: Starkville (Miss.) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 238
On3 RPM: Ole Miss 87.4%, Arkansas 4.5%, Mississippi State 2.9%
Burnside has everything you want in a big-time wide receiver. He is built well from the ground up, runs superb routes and exhibits strong hands through contact. The 6-foot-1, 195 pound prospect was unguardable at the OT7 regional in Austin, Tex., in May and has dominated high school defensive backs throughout his career. As a junior, he finished with 75 receptions for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns. To me, Burnside is a lot like 2023 Ole Miss signee Ayden Williams in wherever he goes, he will play day one.
2024 Ole Miss WR target Braylon Burnside (Photo credit: Marina Puhalj-On3)
3. 4-star DL Jeffery Rush (committed to Ole Miss)
School: Pascagoula (Miss.) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 199
On3 RPM: Ole Miss 95.3%, Auburn 2.2%
One of Randall Joyner’s commits, Rush is a steady presence up front for Pascagoula. Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Florida State, Louisville Miami, Missouri, Mississippi State and Texas were all in on the in-state product early but it was Ole Miss who caught his eye. Ignore the height, Rush is a physical, leverage winner who utilizes quickness and power in the trenches. The weight is enough for him to make slower guards miss on the interior and he can get skinny enough off the edge to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
2024 Ole Miss commit Jeffery Rush (Photo credit: Marina Puhalj-On3)
4. 4-star DL Kamron Beavers (committed to Ole Miss)
School: Bay Springs (Miss.) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 112
On3 RPM: Ole Miss 96.5%, Alabama 1.5%, LSU 1.3%
Speaking of making plays behind the line of scrimmage, Beavers is a massive problem for offenses. Literally and figuratively. A who’s who list of potential suitors went toe-to-toe with Joyner for the 6-foot-3, 260 pound prospect but he chose the Rebels and Pete Golding’s new vision on defense. Beaves has strong hands and can utilize length to shed blockers and get to the ball carrier. He forms quite the tandem with Rush.
Ole Miss commit Kamron Beavers (Photo credit: Ole Miss athletics)
5. 4-star LB Jamonta Waller (committed to Florida)
School: Picayune (Miss.) Picayune Memorial
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 64
On3 RPM: Florida 74.5%, Ole Miss 20.0%, Auburn 1.1%
Waller is a bit of a tweener on paper, but he has the chops to get it done with his hand in the dirt as well as in space. The top-end speed isn’t ideal but can improve. The physicality and mean streak is something which can’t exactly be taught and he has both of those things. In person, he jumps out when you see him operate in space against offensive tackles. A very quick first step and a powerful upper body helps him close the distance against larger offensive lineman.
Ole Miss recruiting target Jamonta Waller (Photo by Chad Simmons/On3)
6. 4-star WR Noreel White (committed to Arkansas)
School: Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 304
On3 RPM: Ole Miss 90.1%, Arkansas 4.3%, LSU 2.8%
White is one of my favorites in the 2024 cycle. The short area quickness and burst off the line is some of the best I’ve seen in the last few years. But he’s much more than a slot receiver. He is a sturdy 190 pounds and can split out wide as well. The speed is exceptional and the route running creates space in one-on-one situations. He attended the Elite 11 regional in Oxford and put on a show, flashing strong hands and impressive physicality when dealing with press coverage.
Ole Miss 2024 WR target Noreel White (Photo credit: Noreel White-Twitter)
7. 4-star DL Terrance Hibbler (committed to Mississippi State)
School: Lexington (Miss.) Holmes County Central
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 392
On3 RPM: Alabama 32.9%, Texas 28.8%, Ole Miss 12.7%, Mississippi State 5.5%
Like the other defensive linemen on this list, Hibbler isn’t a towering prospect, but effective nonetheless. The 285 pound frame certainly helps when working on the interior but he has a devastating punch at the point of attack, too. The scheme is what will determine Hibbler’s development at the next level, but there is no shortage of playmaking ability.
2024 Ole Miss DL target Terrance Hibbler (Photo credit: Terrance Hibbler-Instagram)
8. 4-star RB Kahnen Daniels (committed to Florida)
School: West Point (Miss.) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 309
On3 RPM: Florida 92.8%, Mississippi State 1.8%, Ole Miss 1.6%
Daniels was a standout at Under Armour’s Next Camp in Atlanta way back in February. The 5-foot-11, 190 pound frame is legit and he can really move. The frame works well in today’s age of zone read schemes and the physical running style is a great compliment to the speed. Speaking of, it’s good not great but he can make you miss and has good hands out of the backfield.
Image via On3/Chad Simmons
9. 3-star DL William Echoles (committed to Ole Miss)
School: Houston (Miss.) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 778
On3 RPM: Ole Miss 97.6 %, Auburn 1.4%
Size is not an issue for Echoles. The 6-foot-4 frame is an excellent “rough draft” for the Ole Miss staff to work with once he arrives to campus. He is an athletic prospect who plays both ways in high school, but is being recruited to anchor a defensive line of the future for Joyner. Echoles was somewhat of a late bloomer on the trail because of his lack of film and camp appearances, but the Ole Miss staff made him a priority after a lights out in-person workout.
2024 Ole Miss DL commit William Echoles (Photo credit: Ole Miss Athletics)
10. 3-star IOL Ziron Brown (committed to Stanford)
School: Bay St. Louis (Miss.) Bay
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 446
On3 RPM: Stanford 97.2%, Missouri 2.2%
Probably needs to get a touch taller to be considered an offensive tackle in Power 5 football, but the interior is no doubt a spot Brown can thrive. He’s been impressive in camp setting stops around the SEC and has very, very physical. I’ve yet to see him myself, but analysts love his ability to “finish”.
Stanford commit Ziron Brown (Photo credit: Ziron Brown-Instagram)
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