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There’s no doubt about the fact that Ole Miss (currently ranked No. 5 nationally) has the makings of a fantastic recruiting class for the 2016 cycle, one that rivals the 2013 group that finished in the top 10 (No. 8).
When looking at the top five tight ends currently committed to Southeastern Conference programs, you see two big pieces of the current Rebels class as Ole Miss has two of the best heading to Oxford, including the No. 1 prospect.
1. Octavious Cooley, Ole Miss
The 6-foot-3, 228-pound Cooley, from Laurel (Miss.) High, plays a lot of wide receiver for his high school team but best projects long-term at tight end. He will remind fans of current Rebels tight end Evan Engram quite a bit with the way he can get open, catch the ball and get yards after the catch. Cooley is the nation’s fifth-ranked tight end prospect in the 2016 cycle per 247Sports Composite rankings.
2. Jamal Pettigrew, LSU
The best days of football are definitely ahead for Pettigrew, who hails from New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine High. The 6-foot-6, 230-pounder needs to add strength at the point of attack, but already can block, run and catch with the best of them. The seventh-ranked tight end prospect nationally in the 2016 cycle, Pettigrew has the ability to be special with a year or two of development.
3. Landon Rice, Auburn
Rice has been a known prospect since his freshman season at Calhoun (Ga.) High. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound multi-sport athlete has a bright future ahead of him at Auburn, where he has been committed since 2013. Rice can run, catch and block at a high level and is a versatile weapon that Gus Malzahn can get a lot of use out of in his offense. Rice, an Under Armour All-American, is the No. 8 tight end in the 2016 cycle per 247Sports Composite rankings.
4. Gabe Angel, Ole Miss
Angel, the No. 12 tight end prospect nationally in the 2016 recruiting cycle, bring speed and athleticism to the table, much like Cooley does. A Cookeville (Tenn.) High product, he is an excellent evaluation by the Rebels coaching staff and you can anticipate him making his share of plays in Oxford. He will need to fill out some (he’s listed at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds) but that should come with ease in a college strength and conditioning program.
5. Brendan Scales, Alabama
Last cycle, the Crimson Tide dipped into the state of Missouri and landed a talented tight end in Hale Hentges (he has played in all 13 games for Alabama this season) and so this cycle, the Tide returned to the Show Me State for Scales, a Ballwin (Mo.) Lafayette product. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Scales is a bit raw, but has a big body, good hands and can get open on offense (his defensive end clips are impressive as well). Scales is the No. 15 tight end prospect nationally in the 2016 class per 247Sports Composite rankings.
Recruiting writer for Saturday Down South
