Rebels trying to close gap for FB

William Shumpert spent some quality time with Ole Miss offensive assistants Derrick Nix and Mike Markuson on Thursday at the 7-on-7 camp in Oxford.

The two Rebel assistants couldn't have liked what they heard.

"I like them," Shumpert said Thursday night after returning from a long day on the Ole Miss practice fields. "They said they wanted me to come there. I told them I was leaning to State. They told me to give them a call if I was interested."

Shumpert, a 6-foot, 238-pound fullback from Fulton (Itawamba Agricultural School), Miss., has offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State and Southern Mississippi, but the Bulldogs from Mississippi State are his clear favorites.

"They have a pretty big lead," Shumpert said. "They were one of the first to offer. I like Ole Miss, but I like State better. I have to get to know the coaches better at Ole Miss."

Shumpert is a traditional fullback in the sense that he is a physical blocker who loves to hit linebackers or defensive backs in the open field. After excelling at defensive end early in his career _ Arkansas State is recruiting him as a defensive player _ Shumpert moved to fullback last season and found a home.

"I like to get physical," said Shumpert, who is on track to qualify academically. "I like going out for passes. I'm not very fast, but I like it."