Hibbler expected to player receiver for Rebs
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OXFORD | Willie HibblerClick [rl]Here to view this Link. committed to Ole Miss in August 2013, and there hasn't much drama with his college decision.
Other than a brief stint where he named Florida his co-leader back in February, the Sardis (North Panola), Mississippi, athlete has stayed away from the recruiting fray. He took his official visit over the weekend, and that was as much to be a recruiter as anything else.
Hibbler knows the campus and the Rebels. He was trying to get others to join him.
"It was nice and went great. It was nice to hang around other top recruits and everybody was getting the vibe," Hibbler said. "All of us were trying to get one another to go to one school, so we can be a heavy favorite.
"I feel very good about CeCe (Jefferson), but I think a lot more of them will follow behind them or if they commit first he'll follow behind them."
Ole Miss offensive lineman Aaron Morris was Hibbler's player host, but the 6-foot-6, 224-pounder said everything was a group activity.
"We all got together at the end of the night," Hibbler said.
His visit was abbreviated due to a testing conflict. Hibbler took the ACT on Saturday morning and made the short drive to Ole Miss' campus right after that. He said the test "went great, it was just long. It wasn't hard at all."
Hibbler's athlete status on Rivals.com is partly because no one is sure where he fits best on the field. Tight end and defensive line have been talked about positions for him since his recruitment began, but Ole Miss has a different hybrid in mind.
On a somewhat similar note to Ole Miss All-SEC tight end Evan Engram, the Rebels want Hibbler to work the middle of the field and be in the slot, but they also expect him to line up outside and use his 39-inch vertical against much-smaller cornerbacks.
"I have to learn some tight end routes, but mostly it's receiver routes," Hibbler said.
Hibbler had a difficult senior season, battling nagging ailments and recovering from an October car crash that caused injuries that required surgery. He played in eight games and caught 15 passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran 14 times for 106 yards and one score.
Rivals.com rates Hibbler as a 5.7 three-star prospect and the No. 12 player in Mississippi.
