Rebel commitment having good season

One of Ole Miss' first commitments for the 2009 signing class was Morristown (Hamblen East HS), Tenn. linebacker Demarcus Knight and while the Rebels had a bad experience with early commitments under the former staff, Knight is not having second thoughts about his verbal pledge to Houston Nutt and his staff.

Last year, the Rebels' first commitment for the 2008 signing class, Gavin Hardin, flipped from the Rebels to Miami close to signing day after being committed for almost a year.

Knight attended Ole Miss' Grove Bowl last April and he committed about as quickly as Ole Miss offered. The Rebels wasted no time offering Knight after he was discovered by Ole Miss offensive coordinator Kent Austin during a review of video of prospects in east Tennessee.

Despite reports that Knight was at Ole Miss' homecoming game last weekend, Knight said on Thursday that his only trip to Oxford was to the Grove Bowl last spring.

Getting back to Ole Miss has been an issue for Knight.

"I'd love to go back down for an unofficial visit, but it's all a matter of finding a ride," Knight said, noting that it's about an eight-hour trip from Knoxville to Oxford. "I talked with coach Nutt last night (on Wednesday) and he is wanting to get me back down there. He's telling me I have a great opportunity in front of me, receiving a scholarship to play for Ole Miss and that I also have an opportunity to play early and make an impact."

The 6-foot-2, 230 pound Knight, a middle linebacker prospect, had received interest from Virginia Tech, Kentucky, and Tennessee last spring, but after committing to Ole Miss, has seen other teams basically stay away.

"I'm not hearing much from other schools, haven't heard much since I committed to Ole Miss," Knight said. "That's fine with me, I'm firm with Ole Miss."

In the meantime, Knight is concentrating on his senior season.

"We've had a good season, we're 5-1 and I'm playing middle linebacker and playing some fullback in the jumbo sets," he said. "I have no idea how many tackles I have on the season. That's not important to me anyway, winning is what's important. I don't get many carries on offense, I'm mainly just in to block around the goal line."

Knight will take an official visit later this year, or early next year, before signing day on the first Wednesday in February; however, he's not worked out any plans or picked a timeframe for his visit at this time.

As a sophomore, Knight recorded 79 tackles, 6 1/2 quarterback sacks, 1 interception and 2 fumble recoveries. As a junior, Knight had 72 tackles, 3 sacks and 1 interception.