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Four-star middle linebacker Nyles Morgan (Crete, Ill. Crete-Monee) spent two days in Oxford visiting Ole Miss for the first time since Apr. 13 when he attended the Rebel’s spring game and left with them tied at the top with Vanderbilt.
“As of right now my top hasn’t really changed,” Morgan tells Steve Wiltfong. “In my mind I’d say both are even right now and balanced. That might change as I go along and visit each school and go to games, something might trigger that.”
When Morgan schedules his official visits and sees the game-day atmosphere at Ole Miss and compares it to the scene at Vanderbilt, I fully expect something to trigger with Morgan and move the Rebels to the top. Few environments can rival what Ole Miss presents on Saturdays in the fall whereas Vanderbilt’s is among the worst game-day environments in the SEC.
Furthermore, Ole Miss can provide Morgan with an opportunity to play with two of his former classmates at Crete-Monee in Laquon Treadwell and Anthony Standifer. Part of the appeal for Treadwell — the top wide receiver in 2013 — to come to Oxford last season was Standifer. The same could apply to Morgan who could be lured to Oxford by Treadwell.
Morgan is the No. 4 ranked inside linebacker according to the 247Sports composite rankings and on his visit got to watch the team practice, study game film and stand on the sidelines for the team’s scrimmage. His primary recruiter and linebackers coach, Tom Allen, helped develop redshirt freshman Denzel Nkemdiche into a freshman All-American, so think about what he could do with the physically gifted 6-foot-2, 228-pound Morgan.
Tennessee, Florida and Texas A&M also remain in the mix for Morgan, but this looks like it will be a two-team race between the Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. If it isn’t his prep connections or the opportunity to contribute to the revival of Ole Miss it could be the Rebel coaching staff that serves as the tie-breaker.
“Coach (Hugh) Freeze and the staff, they’re great people,” Morgan tells Wiltfong. “People that have a genuine care about these kids on the football team.”
I made my crystal ball prediction on 247Sports today for Morgan and have him following his former teammates to Ole Miss for a mini Crete-Monee reunion.
Patrick’s a college football writer for Rant Sports and radio host on Sportstownchicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt and add him to your Google network.
