Spirit's Take: Here's what Ole Miss is adding in JUCO safety Roman Rashada
After completing his official visit tour of his announced Top 3, Diablo Valley College (Calif.) safety Roman Rashada announced his commitment to Ole Miss via Twitter on Saturday.
The 6-foot-1, 190 pound defensive back prospect from Pleasant Hill, Calif., chose the Rebels over his other two finalists, Miami and Virginia Tech.
Rashada was once committed to BYU but quickly re-opened his recruitment once Power 5 schools starting showing interest. He ultimately narrowed things down to three schools and took official visits to each to assist in the decision-making prospect, but it seems like the relationship with co-defensive coordinator Chris Partridge won out in the end.
“The people, everyone,” Rashada said in a previous interview with OMSpirit. “From the coaches to the players to the people in the town, they’re all so welcoming and genuine.
“They’re big on treating you like family and in this business you commit to people not places.”
Partridge, who is also the Ole Miss safeties coach, has been on Rashada since Ole Miss extended the offer. The attention to detail and persistence made a lasting impression on the junior college safety.
“From the jump they’ve been there,” Rashada said. “They’ve been serious and never wavered. That is huge to me. They offered and kept going. They didn’t just offer and then lose track, they communicated with me throughout the entire process.”
The Rebels are recruiting Rashada to come in and secure the back line of the Rebels’ 3-2-6 defense. But it was how the program approached defense and how they installed everything caught his eye.
“Scheme-wise it’s perfect,” Rashada said. “You can tell how they practice and prepare that they are wanting to win an SEC championship.”
OMSpirit caught up with Rashada after his commitment and he explained why he chose the Rebels.
“I chose Ole Miss because of coach Partridge and the passion and plan he has for that defense,” Rashada said. “The moment I got off the plane, Oxford felt like home, I couldn’t tell you why. The people and staff and players were very welcoming. We are going to win a SEC title.”
The newest commit plans on enrolling and moving in on Monday.
SPIRIT’S TAKE
Rashada is a rangy safety who gives Partridge and fellow co-defensive coordinator Maurice Crum a ton of flexibility. He can play close to the line of scrimmage and provide assistance in run support while also dropping back in pass coverage and making plays in the passing game as well. At Diablo Valley College, he was consistently a playmaker at all three levels, handling things with ease in the run game while also making plays routinely while covering tight ends and receivers.
Ole Miss lost Jake Springer to graduation and will be looking to replace his innate ability to be at the right spot at the right time. Rashada, along with NCAA Transfer Portal signees Ladarius Tennison and Isheem Young and returning starter Otis Reese, will be tasked with handling those duties in Ole Miss’ 3-2-6 defense.
Impact Potential: 7.8/10
