It was an all-Mississippi recruiting race for four-star security Cortez Thomas.
It made sense, too. Thomas, who goes to Holmes County Excessive Faculty, hails from Lexington, Mississippi, and he clearly needed to remain in-state to play faculty ball.
Regardless of 13 different provides, Ole Miss and Mississippi State had been his high two faculties.
The Bulldogs had an early edge for Thomas, admittedly, however there was a shakeup in Starkville that noticed head coach Zach Arnett fired simply 10 video games into his first season. Jeff Lebby, former Oklahoma offensive coordinator, took over as new head coach, however that shakeup finally gave an edge to Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.
“At first, I used to be leaning extra in the direction of Mississippi State till the teaching employees modified,” Thomas instructed On3’s Chad Simmons. “Mississippi State is at all times an incredible college to go to, however Ole Miss is extra about enterprise and I really feel like that’s the place I must go.”
If the “enterprise” of faculty soccer is profitable, which it finally is, Kiffin has had Ole Miss on observe. Coming into his fifth season with the Rebels, he has a 34-15 general report and is coming off an 11-2 season with a win within the Peach Bowl over Penn State.
“Lane Kiffin is all about profitable. I’m fairly certain each athlete needs to play for a profitable staff,” Cortez stated. “From what I’ve heard and seen thus far, he’s an incredible individual.”
In line with the 247Sports composite, Thomas is the No. 18 security within the 2025 class. He is Kiffin’s tenth dedication for the cycle.
