Ole Miss and Mississippi State both signed only three players this week on national signing day. That was expected as both teams with new head coaches in Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach, respectively, are in a transition state as far as adding players. Even with that said, Leach came into a better situation in that the Bulldogs had signed 21 players in December. They did add two transfers, one JUCO and two high schools players. Ole Miss signed the fewest players in the SEC and is rated 12thin the SEC, according to the experts. Next year will be a better gauge of both coaches’ ability to recruit in the powerful SEC.
FUTURE PROS
Mississippi State football will lead the Magnolia delegations to the National Football League Scouting Combine in Indianapolis later this month. The Bulldogs will be represented by Brian Cole II, Cameron Dantzler, Willie Gay Jr., Stephen Guidry, Tyre Phillips, Chauncey Rivers and Darryl Williams. Ole Miss attendees will be Josiah Caney, Benito Jones, Scottie Philips and Qaadir Sheppard. Southern Mississippi’s lone invite is wide receiver Quez Watkins.
TAYLORSVILLE FLASH
Taylorsville native Billy Hamilton has signed a minor-league baseball contract with the San Francisco Giants. Hamilton played the last part of the 2019 season with the Atlanta Braves. This year MLB has added a 26th man to the roster of all teams, with could help Hamilton’s cause.
BASEBALL REBOUNDS
Major League baseball will try to rebound from a weather of storms during the off season that has tainted the sport. Fans are fast to forgive, and this week all 30 teams are having pitchers and catchers report to spring training sites in Arizona and Florida. Almost one-third of the teams have a new manager heading into the season. The World Series champions Washington Nationals will try to become the first team since the 2000 New York Yankees to defend their title.
HOOPS TOP 4
Baylor, Gonzaga, Kansas and undefeated San Diego State are the top four teams in college basketball. Duke overcame a seven-point North Carolina lead in the last minute of the game to force overtime Saturday night and then won in overtime. It was the 101stmeeting between the schools. Duke now has a 51-50 lead in the series.
D-1 BASEBALL BEGINS
Ole Miss will host No. 1 Louisville, Mississippi State entertains Wright State, and USM welcomes Murray State on Friday. Jackson State will host Southern Illinois, Alcorn heads to the Andre Dawson classic in New Orleans, and Mississippi Valley travels to McNeese State also on Friday.
Dale McKee is a native of Waynesboro and has been writing sports in Mississippi since 1973. His column appears in several weekly papers throughout the state. You may contact him at ddmckee18@yahoo.com
