McCready: Littles commitment huge -- in more ways than one

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Three years ago, right around this time, the rumblings began to get loud.

Robert Nkemdiche was headed to Ole Miss. His mother was making that perfectly clear to anyone capable of reading between the lines.

The nation's No. 1-ranked prospect wasn't going to arrive in Oxford alone. Laquon Treadwell liked other schools, but Ole Miss was emerging as a favorite and there were whispers that Laremy Tunsil's interest in the Rebels was more serious than most believed.

That signing class, one that also included Tony Conner, Evan Engram and Quincy Adeboyejo, turned heads and garnered headlines. That class drew scrutiny and accusations. Above all else, however, it was labeled a fluke.

As of this afternoon, it's difficult to call it a fluke any longer. Ole Miss picked up a commitment Wednesday from Allen, Texas, offensive tackle Gregory Little, who chose the Rebels over Alabama, Auburn and pretty much every major program in the country. Rivals.com ranks Little as the nation's top offensive tackle and No. 4 overall prospect.

"Little is an advanced tackle when it comes to footwork and technique and he obviously has great size," Rivals.com national recruiting director Mike Farrell said. "His arm extension is excellent and he rarely guesses."

Little will almost certainly be asked to step in and start at left tackle from day one for Ole Miss. Tunsil likely has just the Sugar Bowl left in a Rebel uniform; then, he'll hear his name called early in the first round of the NFL draft in late April.

Tunsil didn't make his decision known until National Signing Day in 2013. Little has the ability to have more of an impact. Ole Miss already has the nation's top-ranked quarterback, quarterback Shea Patterson, recruiting for it. Little will now join Patterson's efforts. A class that also features Rivals250 standouts DeKaylin Metcalf, Justin Conner, Benito Jones, Bryce Mathews and Charles Wiley could add some serious star power between now and Feb. 3.

"I think (Little) could have a big impact on this class for Ole Miss because he's such a big name and opens some doors in Texas," Farrell said. "And beating out Texas A&M and Alabama and LSU is also huge."

In the Rivals100 alone, Ole Miss is a serious contender for defensive back Nigel Knott, wide receiver Drake Davis, defensive end Jeffery Simmons, safety Deontay Anderson and cornerback/athlete Shyheim Carter.

Ole Miss is in the mix, at least to some degree, for five-stars Rashan Gary, Mique Juarez and four-stars Ed Oliver, Mykel Jones, Clyde Leflore-Chriss, Willie Allen, Devin White and Tre Nixon. Some of those, mind you, remain long shots, but adding Little's name to the commitment list won't hurt.

There will be rumblings that Little's decision will have a profound positive impact on Ole Miss' chances with Gary, a defensive tackle from Paramus, N.J., ranked No. 1 overall by Rivals.com. The two prospects are friends and their mothers are friendly.

"I'm not sure what kind of impact it will have on Gary, likely not much since I think Rashan's decision comes down to comfort and will be a family-oriented decision without a ton of influence from other prospects," Farrell said.

Regardless, the depth of Ole Miss' involvement with elite prospects is worth noting. That 2013 class was star-studded, but it was top-heavy. That lack of depth has shown on the field this fall. Hugh Freeze has made Ole Miss relevant and turned the Rebels into a contender.

To win the prize, however, Ole Miss must evolve into a deeper roster. Everyone inside the Manning Center knows it, and the sense among those close to the program is that while the 2016 class will be headlined by stars, its greatest strength will be its depth. Little's commitment, insiders believe, should help turn that hope/wish/goal into a reality.

Last season, as Ole Miss made a run that ended in an access bowl, players such as Nkemdiche and Treadwell talked about a "new normal" in Oxford. They'll be gone in February, training for the NFL scouting combine and preparing for the NFL draft. Their words, however, will still reverberate.

Prior to Little's commitment Wednesday, Ole Miss ranked No. 5 in the Rivals.com team recruiting rankings. In 2013, when Ole Miss finished No. 7 in those rankings, the accomplishment was treated with astonishment and wonder. That won't be the reaction on Feb. 3 if the current rankings hold.

The 2016 class will likely establish Ole Miss as a recruiting power. Of course, Freeze wants much more than that. He'd probably love a title that comes with a trophy and a ring. He has to be hoping the 2016 class eventually makes that a reality as well.