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Greg Little, the top offensive line recruit in the country, has committed to Ole Miss.
But he has already de-committed from another SEC school, Texas A&M, where his former high school teammate, Kyler Murray, played for just one season before he announced his decision to transfer and eventually signed with Oklahoma.
So what made Little decide to join the Rebels?
“It was the whole feel of family,” Little said. “It was the coaches and everybody around there. There was just a certain feel.”
Here are a few things to know about the five-star recruit who already is being compared to Laremy Tunsil, the early NFL Draft entrant Little will more than likely replace on the Rebels’ offensive line.
HE STARTED PREP CAREER AT DIFFERENT POSITION
Before becoming the nation’s top high school offensive lineman, the 6-6, 305-pound Little was a freshman tight end for Allen High School in Texas.
“Before I was a tackle I was a tight end, and it’s hard to find a tackle who can run block as well as pass block and has good feet. A good blindside tackle can help a team out a lot,” Little told sportingnews.com.
LITTLE HAS THE SEC IN HIS BLOOD
Little is the son of a former SEC player, Derrick Little, who was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 1989 NFL Draft after splitting time as a defensive lineman and linebacker at South Carolina.
PATTERSON IS PUMPED UP
Ole Miss quarterback commit Shea Patterson, like Little a 5-star recruit, is already looking forward to having his fellow incoming freshman block for him.
“I’m just excited to know that having him will make my job a lot easier,” Patterson told USA TODAY High School Sports. “And by adding him, I think we will add a few others and make this a legendary class.”
TEXAS A&M WAS THE FIRST TO OFFER
Little’s first offer came from Texas A&M only a couple of weeks into his sophomore season. He verbally committed to the Aggies in 2014 before de-committing from A&M last July.
Little apparently received 27 scholarship offers, including ones from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU.
Before committing to Ole Miss in December, Little postponed his announcement in November.
HE MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA VIDEO …
In a sign of the times, Little announced he was committing to Ole Miss on bleacherreport.com. In another video, Little reveals that Hugh Freeze’s spirituality is a major reason he chose Ole Miss.
Earlier this month, Freeze visited with Little.
WHAT TO EXPECT AS A TRUE FRESHMAN
Ole Miss is coming off a 10-3 season, one the Rebels capped with a 48-20 victory over Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl.
It is losing its top lineman – Tunsil – and top receiver Laquon Treadwell to the NFL Draft. But Chad Kelly, who had arguably the best season in school history for an Ole Miss QB, is coming back for his senior year.
Tunsil’s departure creates three openings on Mississippi’s offensive line. Right tackle Fahn Cooper and center Ben Still, both seniors, will need to be replaced, so Little has multiple options where could step in and start.
According to scout.com, Little “has that long arm looking frame that could handle additional strength easily as he matures.”
Little has apparently developed an approach that he takes with him on the field.
“Being mean can cost you, because it’s being out of control,” he told sportingnews.com. “I turn it on to a different level on the field, but I’m not over aggressive because you can draw a penalty or even hurt yourself. I’m a laid back tackle, but I’ll get the job done. I’ll get you some pancakes and still do it with good sportsmanship.”
If Little approaches what Tunsil did during his career in Oxford, the Rebels should be in pretty good shape.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
