Ole Miss the place to be this recruiting season but outside noise is not pulling focus off Peach Bowl
Another transfer portal season is in full swing and once again Lane Kiffin has made Ole Miss a desirable destination once again for recruiting targets. With the way the calendar now lines up for college football this is all happening while Kiffin and his staff are also preparing for a New Year’s Six bowl against No. 10 Penn State.
Last weekend’s official visitor list was a who’s who list of high school and portal players essentially have an ice cream social mixer serving as the back drop to Ole Miss’ Peach Bowl preparations.
This weekend is proving to be no different with the No. 1 transfer portal target Walter Nolen coming to Oxford for the biggest official visit of this transfer season and Kiffin is hoping to reel in his best catch onto the boat.
Of course since Saturday the No. 11-ranked Rebels have been on the practice field getting back into rhythm and knocking the rust off after a two-week layoff since the Egg Bowl.
For current players who are trying to keep the blinders on, the extra guests at practice is not much of a distraction. In a Lane Kiffin program, or any top program for that matter, having a lot of eyes on the sidelines soaking practice in is common all season.
“Just being Ole Miss and we like to dig into the transfer portal, a lot,” said receiver Jordan Watkins after Friday’s practice. “Having not even just the transfer portal but high school guys as well on their officials. I think it’s a lot cooler for the high school guys because obviously we’re practicing, preparing for a bowl game but we’re still having a lot of fun out there for practice. So they see the fun side of college football a little bit.
“For transfer portal guys they get to see a different style of practice. It is a little bit hard to keep the blinders on because if you see some guy you’re hosting you want to go talk to them during practice. You can lose sight of focus a little bit but you just get right back to it.”
Ole Miss is not slowing down in bringing in top names and Watkins enjoys playing a role in the process.
In this era of recruiting the sales pitches come from all angles and not just from mailers and phone calls from the coaching staff. Current players and even committed prospects do their best sell jobs through social media and in person when on visits.
Watkins was part of the process two years ago when he made the move from Louisville to Ole Miss. Now as part of the Rebels roster, which is a popular roster for others to consider being on, he is enjoying helping out however he can.
“It’s really fun to see guys that you’ve been talking to for weeks that are in the portal,” Watkins added. “Somewhat you feel like you were able to influence it a little bit. Because most of the big-time guys I hang out with a lot of them, try to get them here. Me and Jaxson (Dart), both. It’s really cool to obviously see them commit and then you’re like, ‘Okay, I played a little bit of a part in that. I hope.’ Probably not, though, but you just want to feel like you did a little bit.”
Things are not slowing down this weekend as Ole Miss is set for another big visitor list as the final weekend before early National Signing Day on December 20.
