Anthony Maddox stays home, commits to Ole Miss
After being committed to Texas A&M for over nine months, Hattiesburg (Miss.) Oak Grove quarterback Anthony Maddox opened his recruitment back up Friday.
The three-star wasn’t uncommitted for long. Maddox has decided to stay home and commit to Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels.
“Staying home and playing in front of the home-state fans is a great opportunity for me,” Maddox told On3. “I get to stay close to home and represent the home state. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me at Ole Miss.”
Staying close to home was a factor, but the deciding factor for Maddox to go away from Texas A&M and commit to Ole Miss over the likes of Louisville and Miami were the coaches he gets to play for.
“The big reasons why I chose Ole Miss are Charlie Weiss and Lane Kiffin. Those are two offensive minds that are creative and know how to put quarterbacks in great situations.
“Coach Weiss has a great offensive background, he has a great mind and I know he can help me be successful at the quarterback position. Coach Kiffin and Coach Lincoln Riley are two guys I idolized growing up because of their offensive minds. What they do with quarterbacks and what I thought they could do with me always had my attention.
“Now I get to go play for Coach Weiss and Coach Kiffin. That is what put Ole Miss on top.”
Ole Miss pushed for Maddox late in the process
Ole Miss offered Maddox on Dec. 7. That is just over a week ago. The staff saw his senior film, watched him win a state title on their home field and quickly got Maddox on campus.
The official visit to Oxford was last weekend. Kiffin and Weiss laid out their plan and it paid off.
“Since they saw my senior film and then saw me play the state championship game, they came hard after me,” Maddox said. “Ole Miss made me feel wanted. They were real with me, they made me a priority when they offered and I knew I liked the fit for me.
“Coach Kiffin talked to me about it being Jaxon Dart‘s team this season, but they think I can come in, push him and compete for the starting job next season. How real they were and the way they treated me showed me a lot.”
Maddox has visited Ole Miss three or four times. He likes what Kiffin is doing with the program. And what Ole Miss offers is exactly what Maddox was looking for.
“I am past all of the glitz and glamour of schools that come with recruiting. I have taken a lot of visits and what sets Ole Miss apart is the fit. They don’t have the biggest stadium or whatever, but it came down to offensive philosophy and fit. That is what made Ole Miss the school for me. Coach Kiffin and Coach Weiss set Ole Miss apart. That was it for me.”