There’s a pipeline heading to Oxford from Louisville as the Rebels are noticing what kind of defensive athletes the Wildcats are producing.
Three players from Louisville’s 2017 defense are now Ole Miss Rebels thanks to the signing of Jones College defenders Daylen Gill and Lakevias Daniel on Wednesday. Both players were stars for the Wildcats along with linebacker Ashanti Cistrunk, who was a freshman for the Rebels this year.
For both Gill and Daniel, it’s been a long month for the two longtime Ole Miss commitments. They pledged to Matt Luke and the Rebels earlier this season but the firing of the coach after the Egg Bowl brought along major doubts for both and they decommitted on Dec. 2.
Daniel took two visits to Louisville (Kentucky) and to West Virginia and both schools gave him something to think about. But Ole Miss was in his heart and he signed with the Rebels on signing day.
“The last few weeks have been stressful for me because the decision-making was really hard. Every school was pressing me hard, but Ole Miss stood out to me the most,” Daniel said. “I wasn’t cool with the fact that I had to go so far. Ole Miss was here for me and it’s close and my parents can come see me play. They were my first SEC offer and first big-time offer so it felt like the place for me.”
The recruiting process started quietly for Daniel. The 6’0, 180-pound cornerback went to Jones College. As a sophomore, Daniel was second on the team with three interceptions and had 18 tackles with a sack on the year. He earned All-Region 23 team honors and began to pick up interest outside of Ole Miss after the season ended.
Illinois, Tennessee and West Virginia all offered within a month’s time with the Vols and Mountaineers jumping on board when Daniel decommitted following the Luke news. It prompted the talented defensive back to open his eyes to different options, something he’s thankful for in the grand scheme.
Daniel officially visited West Virginia and Louisville in consecutive weeks and it gave him something to think about.
“It was outstanding taking those trips. I flew on a plane for the first time,” Daniel said. “It was amazing seeing big cities like that. I enjoyed myself and I got a better view of the world and some great schools.”
When Daniel returned from Louisville last week, new Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin made the trip to Winston county to check in on he and Gill who had already jumped back on board with the Rebels.
Daniel described that visit as a little nerve-racking but reassuring.
“I was actually nervous. I still wasn’t over the fact that Matt Luke was gone, but I knew that Lane Kiffin is a big time coach so I was shocked when I met him,” Daniel said of the first face-to-face meeting. “We sat down and talked about a lot. He told me that Ole Miss was still there for me and the opportunity was still on the table and everything would be different. It was going to be a good change.”
That meeting swung Daniel back into Ole Miss’ camp but he wouldn’t officially announce until signing day evening when he and Gill got a chance to sign together in Louisville.
For Gill, he had been back on board for a week or so. He took visits to Louisville and Purdue, but Kiffin put his mind at ease and he remembered that the Rebels believed in him first.
“They were the only ones that showed a lot of interest for me. They were the first ones to offer me. I’m a loyal person so I stayed at home,” Gill said. “It’s going to be great to play with Lakevias again and with Ashanti.”
From pee wee to the SEC, the two standout defenders have been together through it all. Daniel is excited that they get to continue down that path.
“That’s my cousin and we’ve been playing football since we were kids. We’re trying to keep that cycle going,” Daniel said of Gill. “We sat in the room at Jones and talked about playing together in the SEC. He spoke with me the night before signing day and told me how much he needed me by his side. I thought about it and prayed and made my decision. I’m ready to play beside him for another two years on that Landshark defense.”
