RebelSports.net - Grayshirt anxious to join Ole Miss

November 5, 2009

Dave Childers
Publisher

When Ole Miss fans look over the commitment list for 2010, one name that doesn't appear that could end up being a major impact next season is 2009 signee Evan Swindall.

As a grayshirt (signed in 2009, but delayed enrollment until January 2010), Swindall's name will not appear on the Rebels' 2010 commitment list under a Rivals.com policy. However, Swindall will enroll as a fulltime student in January and will be announced by the school as a 2010 signee, counting against one of Ole Miss' 22 players it can sign next year.

While schools are normally permitted to sign and enroll 25 prospects each year, Ole Miss' number has been reduced by three due to an academic performance review penalty.

Meanwhile, Swindall is currently living in Oxford, enrolled as a part time student, and is anxious to join the football team for spring practice next March.

"I've just been hanging out, working out and doing some running," Swindall said on Wednesday. "I'm taking nine hours - business, psychology and English, and just waiting where I can join the team."

Swindall, a 6-foot-3, 290 pound offensive center prospect from LaFayette, Ga., bypassed offers from Middle Tennessee State and Central Florida to play this fall in favor of Ole Miss' grayshirt offer to play in the SEC beginning next year.

"It's really worked out well," Swindall said. "I wouldn't have played this year anyway with their center returning and them having a backup center."

Since Swindall is enrolled only as a part time student, his eligibility clock has not started under NCAA rules. When he enrolls next January, the clock will start which permits him to have four years of eligibility and five years in which to complete that.

Swindall is coming in at a position of need for Ole Miss and will be counted on to contribute immediately.

The Rebels have three centers on the roster - Daverin Geralds, Mark Jean-Louis and Brandon Green - and all three are finishing their careers this fall.

However, that could change. Geralds played only a handful of snaps as a true freshman in 2006 and the staff is asking for an exception by the NCAA that would restore a year of eligibility, meaning he could return for a "second" senior season.

While there's no way to forecast what the NCAA ruling will be, it's unlikely the NCAA will look favorably on the request in the absence of some hardship considerations. The ruling is not expected to be announced until after the season.

If the ruling is not favorable to Geralds and Ole Miss, then it will fall on Swindall to be ready for starting duties by next fall. He could have some competition for the position from inbound freshman Chase Hughes, who committed to the Rebels earlier in the fall. Hughes also is in a position to graduate early and enroll next January; however, when last interviewed by RebelSports.net, he had not made the decision if he'll enroll early on stay in high school for the spring semester of his senior year.

Swindall hasn't been able to work out with the team, but he said he's followed the Rebels closely, attending all home games as a prospect.

Technically, he's eligible to be recruited by any school after not enrolling in the fall semester, but he is set on becoming a full time student in January at Ole Miss.

"I've been to all the games, but haven't had much contact with the coaches or anything," he said. "I really haven't talked to Coach (Mike) Markuson (offensive line coach), but he knows I'm ready to come in and do what it takes to help the team."

Swindall said he's not too concerned with the Rebels somewhat disappointing season - a 5-3 record thus far - after being ranked as high as No. 4 earlier in the season.

"I think they have a chance to be good this season, to win some more games, and I think we have a chance to be good next year too."

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