After the first early signing day, one thing is for sure. Amidst a cloud of NCAA sanctions, Matt Luke is proving he is the right man to navigate the rough waters ahead for the Ole Miss Rebels.
There’s no program in the SEC that has gone through as much controversy recently as Ole Miss. They’ve had all the trappings of an NCAA investigation hanging over their heads for the last few years, and parted ways with their head coach after a scandal involving an escort service in Tampa. New Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke now faces these challenges.
Faced with NCAA sanctions, the Rebels had only one option when picking the next head man. The priority couldn’t be flash, but instead stabilization. That made interim coach, and Ole Miss lifer Matt Luke the obvious choice.
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Signing Day Success
In the first iteration of the early signing period, Ole Miss is off to a hot start. They had a class with highlights, but also a solid base. Signings like 3-star WR Demarcus Gregory out of South Carolina, and 3-star LB Jacquez Jones were key in a class ranked 35th in the 247Sports composite rankings.
Before Wednesday, the biggest highlight was 4-star QB Matt Corral‘s intent to sign with Ole Miss instead of Florida. The flip of Corral came as a shock to the college football world, but the Rebels weren’t done yet. The biggest headlines on Wednesday were two more surprising flips.
The first was Elijah Moore, the 4-star WR who had been committed to Georgia since August. Considering Georgia currently sits with the top ranked class on several of the recruiting successes, getting Moore is even more impressive.
The other shocker was one that will only provide heat to an already intense in-state rivalry. James Williams, the 3-star defensive end, is the sixth ranked player in the state of Mississippi. Similar to Moore, Williams had been committed to Mississippi State since October.
Ole Miss and Matt Luke against the world
Every time a program faces NCAA investigation and sanctions, the school and its fan base are galvanized. The Rebels have been no different. While they have seen a dip in on-field success, there is no intent to fall into obscurity.
Matt Luke was the perfect choice for Ole Miss, because he is the perfect guy to deliver the “us against the world” message. He IS Ole Miss.
Born In Gulfport, MS, Luke played at Ole Miss from 1995-98, and has spent most of his coaching career in Oxford. He was a graduate assistant in 1999, an offensive line coach from 2002 – 2005, and the co-offensive coordinator since 2012, until taking over after the departure of Hugh Freeze.
The ceiling may not be an extremely high one under Luke. We may not see them beat Alabama consistently, or play in multiple New Year’s Six bowls, but that isn’t the task at hand.
Next: Gator recruiting train back on track
The Rebels, now facing two seasons of NCAA sanctions, need a stabilizer. If the early signing period is any indication, that is exactly what Matt Luke provides.