‘I’m finally here now’: Deion Smith officially becomes an Ole Miss Rebel this week
Deion Smith is on his way to Ole Miss.
No, for real this time.
To recap, Smith has seemingly been on the verge of landing in Oxford since the minute he announced his transfer from LSU two years ago. However, academic hurdles sent him to Holmes (Mississippi) Community College for a year.
Even more coursework kept Smith from enrolling at Ole Miss in December and participating in spring practices.
“It was a rough process,’ Smith said. “It took grinding and took patience, but we got it done, and now it’s time to roll. It’s been a rough road to overcome, and they’ve been trying to get me for a couple years now.”
Smith is a former four-star in-state recruit. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Smith confirmed to the Ole Miss Spirit on Monday he’ll arrive at Ole Miss Saturday, June 1. He was ranked by On3 as the No. 1 JUCO prospect in the country.
“I’m finally here now,” he said. “I’m ready to get there, roll and win the natty.”
RELATED: ‘Justin Jefferson 2.0’: What Ole Miss football is getting in Deion Smith, the No. 1 JUCO wideout
Smith rounds out one of the most talent-rich receiver rooms in all of college football.
The Rebels last season were the only team in the sport to produce three 700-yard receivers. Ole Miss won a program-record 11 games and appeared in its second New Year’s Six bowl in three years.
Two are back in Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins. Harris is the highest-graded returning wideout in the SEC, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I feel like we’ve got the best receiver room in the country,” Smith said. “Single coverage, nobody can guard us. That receiving room is going to be the room that takes us all the way.”
Smith caught 11 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns in six games as an LSU freshman. He signed in 2021 as the No. 54 player in his class. Smith was the No. 8 wide receiver and Mississippi’s top recruit.
“I feel it’s more dogs in JUCO,” Smith said. “They’re more hungry, so they’re going to test you in JUCO. I’d been from the SEC, but I couldn’t go just out there and think it was going to be a cakewalk. I knew I was going to have to work my butt off to get back to where I needed to be from missing that year.
“JUCO helped me get back to myself.”
Smith is originally from Jackson and led JUCO in receiving (1,063) and yards per game last season. Twelve of his 48 catches went for touchdowns, and he pulled all of it off in just eight games.
“My main drive that keeps me going is my kid,” Smith said. He revealed he’ll wear No. 6 as a Rebel — matching his number at LSU.
“I’m trying to do everything I can to help my family out.”
The post ‘I’m finally here now’: Deion Smith officially becomes an Ole Miss Rebel this week appeared first on On3.
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