Feb. 1, 2012

All-Americans Headline 2012 Rebel Signing Class | Photo Gallery | Press Conference | Signee Map | Blog: New Rebels Announce On ESPN | NSD12 Central

Darone Bailey

OL | 6-6 | 315 | Cleveland, Miss. (East Side; Coahoma C.C.)

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Earned second team All-State honors from the Mississippi Association of Junior College Coaches as a freshman … Sophomore year was cut short by season-ending ACL injury in the season’s second game … Coached by Freeman Horton … HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year starter at East Side High School ... Rated the No. 98 offensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com … Coached by Tavares Johnson … Participated in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star game.

Quintavius Burdette

ATH | 5-10 | 180 | Senatobia, Miss. (Senatobia)

Rated the No. 90 running back in the nation by ESPN.com … Played quarterback his senior year after rushing for 1,235 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior, averaging better than eight yards per-carry … Also played defensive back as a sophomore … Earned second team Class 2A All-State honors from the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a junior … Participated in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game as a senior … Coached in high school by Phil Oakley.

Pierce Burton

OL | 6-7 | 290 | Sacramento, Calif. (Rio Americano; San Jose State; City College of San Francisco)

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Helped lead squad to 12-0 record,  California Junior College state championship and JC Gridwire national title as a sophomore … Earned first team All-Conference honors … Named Team Offensive MVP … Coached by George Rush … SAN JOSE STATE (2009-10): Played for head coach and former Ole Miss assistant Mike MacIntyre … Saw action in one game in 2010 … Redshirted in 2009 … Signed as a defensive tackle before moving to offense … HIGH SCHOOL: Named team’s Defensive Lineman of the Year for 2008, helping lead the squad to an 8-3 record ... Credited with 50 tackles, including 30 solo stops ... Second on the team with 5.0 QB sacks ... Coached by Mike Smith … Also lettered in basketball ... Finished second on the team in scoring at 14.7 ppg and first in rebounding at 8.7 rpg in 2009 … Made 55 percent of his field goal tries as Rio Americano posted a 22-6 win-loss record his junior season … PERSONAL: Born: April 10, 1991 … Has 12 years of sailboat racing experience for the Richmond (Calif.) Yacht Club in competitions held on San Francisco Bay.

Dehendret Collins

DB | 5-11 | 175 | Meadville, Miss. (Franklin County; Copiah-Lincoln C.C.)

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Earned second team NJCAA All-America honors … A first team NJCAA Region 23 and Mississippi Association of Junior College Coaches All-State selection … Registered six interceptions and 11 pass breakups as a sophomore … Named second team All-State by the MAJCC as a freshman … Coached by Glenn Davis … HIGH SCHOOL: Totaled four interceptions and two TD returns as a senior … Earned first team 3A All-Region and second team All-Metro honors from the Natchez Democrat … Coached by Trent Hammond.

Robert Conyers

OL | 6-5 | 277 | Miami, Fla. (Braddock)

Ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 62 offensive tackle in the country … Rated the No. 69 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 10 offensive tackle in the state of Florida by Scout.com … Began his high school career as a defensive lineman/linebacker before making the move to offense … Participated in the Nike South Florida All-Star Game as a senior … As a junior, helped lead Braddock High School to an 8-2 record and the state playoffs … Also as a junior, was named first team All-County and second team All-State ... Coached in high school by Frank Rojas.  

Cody Core

WR |6-3 | 173 | Auburn, Ala. (Auburn)

Earned honorable mention All-State honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a senior … Finished with 24 receptions for 610 yards and eight touchdowns his senior year … Also rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and recorded 31 tackles and three interceptions in four games at defensive back … Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game as a senior … Coached in high school by Tim Carter.

Trae Elston

DB | 6-0 | 183 | Oxford, Ala. (Oxford)

An Under Armour All-America selection … A SuperPrep All-Region pick and ranked the No. 16 player in Alabama … Earned first team All-State honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a junior and senior … Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game … Rated the No. 10 safety in the nation and No. 12 recruit in the state by ESPN.com … Listed as the No. 28 safety in the nation and No. 14 recruit in the state by Rivals.com … Ranked the No. 68 cornerback in the nation according to Scout.com … Finished his senior year with 94 tackles and eight interceptions on defense, while catching 34 passes for 656 yards and eight touchdowns … Helped lead team to a 12-2 record and the Class 6A Semifinals ... Coached in high school by John Grass.

Issac Gross

DL | 6-3 | 270 | Batesville, Miss. (South Panola)

An Under Armour All-America selection … Named to The Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen squad and rated the No. 5 player on the paper’s Top Ten Most Wanted List … Selected as a member of the Mississippi Press Fantastic 15 team … Earned first team All-State honors as a senior and second team All-State honors as junior from The Clarion-Ledger … Named first team Class 6A All-State and Defensive Player of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior … Recorded 80 tackles and 13.5 sacks as a sophomore and 75 tackles and 10 sacks as a junior … Helped South Panola win the Class 6A state title and finish as the top ranked team in the country as a junior … Participated in the Under Armour All-America game and the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game … Ranked the No. 25 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com and Rivals.com and the No. 5 player in the state of Mississippi by Rivals.com … A member of the ESPNU150 and ranked as the No. 35 overall recruit in the nation, No. 3 defensive tackle, and No. 1 player in Mississippi by ESPN.com … Coached in high school by Lance Pouge.

Mike Hilton

ATH | 5-9 | 175 | Fayetteville, Ga. (Sandy Creek)

Helped lead team to a 12-1 record and the state playoffs as a senior … Named honorable mention Class AAA All-State by the Georgia Sports Writers Association … Played safety as a junior and broke the school record with nine interceptions … Ranked as the No. 71 player in Georgia by Rivals.com and the No. 78 running back in the nation by Scout.com … Coached in high school by Chip Walker.

Kenno Loyal

RB | 5-10 | 234 | Decatur, Ga. (Columbia)

Listed as the No. 3 fullback in the nation by Rivals.com … Rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 17 running back in the nation by ESPN.com … Listed as the No. 66 running back in the nation by Scout.com … Ran for 1500 yards and 17 touchdowns in only nine games in 2011 … Coached in high school by Kevin Latham.  

I’Tavius Mathers

RB | 6-0 | 195 | Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Blackman)

Named The Tennessean’s Player of the Year as a junior and senior and was named to the publication’s Dream Team in 2011 … Named district and county MVP in 2011 … Earned Tennessee Gatorade and Old Spice Player of the Year honors his junior year … A SuperPrep All-Region selection and rated the No. 8 player in Tennessee … Earned Tennessee Class AAA Mr. Football honors … Listed No. 84 on Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 list … Rated the No. 20 running back in the nation and the No. 7 player in Tennessee by Rivals.com … Listed as the No. 35 running back in the nation by Scout.com … Rated the No. 42 running back in the nation and No. 20 player in the state by ESPN.com … Rushed for 2,253 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior after rushing for 2,614 yards and 29 TDs as a junior … Team finished 8-4 his senior year and advanced to the state playoffs … Coached in high school by Philip Shadowen.

Ben Still

OL | 6-4 | 295 | Memphis, Tenn. (Memphis University School)

A Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association Division 2-AA All-State selection as a senior … Ranked as the No. 46 OG in the nation by Scout.com … A SuperPrep All-Region selection and rated the No. 15 player in Tennessee … Listed as the No. 95 offensive lineman in the nation by ESPN.com and the No. 30 player in the state … Participated in the Memphis All-Star Classic … Team finished 8-4 his senior year … Coached in high school by Bobby Alston.

Temario Strong

DL | 6-1 | 210 | Batesville, Miss. (South Panola)

Two-time selection to The Clarion-Ledger All-State Team, including first team honors as a senior … Also named to the publication’s Dandy Dozen and Top 40 lists … Earned first team Class 6A All-State honors from the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior … Rated as the No. 29 recruit in the state by ESPN.com … Ranked the No. 17 prospect in the state by Rivals.com … Listed as the No. 107 defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com ... Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game … Recorded 60 tackles, four sacks, four fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles his senior year … Posted 79 tackles and 14.5 sacks as a junior … Won Class 6A state title as a junior and helped squad to Rivals.com High School National Championship as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation … Nephew of former Ole Miss and All-SEC standout Eddie Strong … Coached in high school by Lance Pogue.

Bo Wallace

QB | 6-5 | 210 | Pulaski, Tenn. (Giles County; Arkansas State; East Mississippi C.C.)

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Led East Mississippi to an undefeated 12-0 season and the NJCAA national  championship last season while setting NJCAA single-season records for passing yards (4,604), total yards (4,810) and touchdown passes (53) … Earned first team All-American and National Offensive Player of the Year honors from NJCAA … Became only the second player in NJCAA history to surpass the 4,000-yard mark passing and the first freshman to win National Offensive Player of the year since 2004 … A three-time NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week selection …  Earned Offensive Game MVP honors following EMCC’s 55-47 victory over previously unbeaten Arizona Western College in the NJCAA championship game by completing 31-of-44 passes for 486 yards and seven touchdowns, the most ever thrown in an NJCAA-sanctioned national title game … Named 2011 NJCAA Region 23 Most Valuable Player as well as the Offensive Back MVP of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College’s North Division … Coached in junior college by Buddy Stephens … ARKANSAS STATE (2010): Did not see action and was redshirted … HIGH SCHOOL: Led Giles County to a Class 4A state title and a 14-game winning streak ... As a senior, posted a 70-percent completion rate, 3,287 yards passing, 37 passing touchdowns, and 47 total scores … Also had 4,195 total yards, breaking a state record ... Ranked in the top five in state history in total touchdowns (2nd), passing touchdowns (T-3rd), and passing yardage (5th) ... Earned The Tennessean's All-Midstate Player of the Year award and was also one of 11 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football honorees ... Senior season was named Region 12-4A MVP and was the MVP of the 4A state championship game ... Also named Super All-State, Tennessean Player of the Year, Tennessean Dream Team member in 2009 ... Finished his career with 8,778 yards of total offense and 6,395 passing yards, which rank fifth and seventh all-time in the state, respectively ... Junior season was the Region 5-3A Offensive Player of the Year, 3A All-State selection, Hazelgreen 7-on-7 MVP, an Army All-America Combine participant and an EA Sports Elite 11 participant ... Completed 99-of-164 passing attempts for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also rushing 153 times for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008 ... Sophomore season was the Region 5-3A Quarterback of the Year and an all-state selection, completing 100-of-170 passing attempts for 1,696 yards and 15 touchdowns ... Also ran 81 times for 353 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore ... Freshman year was the National Underclassmen Combine Freshman MVP and Ultimate 100 participant.

Jaylen Walton

RB | 5-8 | 164 | Memphis, Tenn. (Ridgeway)

The Commercial Appeal Class 5A Player of the Year … A SuperPrep All-Region selection and rated the No. 18 player in Tennessee … Earned Class 5A all-state honors from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association as a senior … Listed No. 106 on the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 … Rated the No. 8 all-purpose running back in the nation and the No. 12 player in the state by Rivals.com ... Rated the No. 56 running back in the nation by Scout.com … Rushed for 2,584 yards and 33 TD's as a senior … Posted more than 2,200 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns as a junior … Helped lead his team to a 9-4 record and to the quarterfinals in the Class 5A playoffs his senior year … Participated in the Memphis All-Star Classic  … Coached in high school by Duron Sutton.

Channing Ward

DL | 6-4 | 250 | Aberdeen, Miss. (Aberdeen)

An Under Armour All-America selection … Listed No. 2 on The Clarion Ledger’s Top 10 Most Wanted list … Earned first team All-State honors from The Clarion Ledger his junior and senior seasons … Also named to the publication’s Dandy Dozen list and ranked the No. 2 player on the paper’s Top Ten Most Wanted List … A member of the ESPN150 and rated the No. 48 player and No. 5 defensive end in the nation by and No. 2 In Mississippi by ESPN.com … A SuperPrep All-America selection and rated the No. 1 player in the state … Earned first team Class 3A All-State honors from the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a junior and senior and was named Defensive Player of the Year as a junior …  Listed No. 20 on the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 … Member of the Rivals100 and rated the No. 51 player in the nation by Rivals.com … Rated the No. 1 player in Mississippi and the No. 4 defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com … Listed as the No. 48 player in the nation by PrepStar and No. 1 in Mississippi … Rated the No. 6 defensive end in the nation by PrepStar … Rated a 5-star player and the No. 8 defensive end in the nation by Scout.com … Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game as a senior … Recorded 116 tackles and 16 QB sacks his senior year … Posted 119 tackles and 13 QB sacks as a junior … Participated in the Under Amour All-America Game recording 2.0 sacks and 3.5 TFLs … Led team to the 3A State Runner-Up finishes his sophomore and junior seasons … Coached in high school by Chris Duncan.

John Youngblood

DL | 6-5 | 230 | Trussville, Ala. (Hewitt-Trussville)

Named to the Birmingham News' 2011 All-Northeast Alabama football team … Posted 131 tackles, 15.0 TFLs, 6.0 QB sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior … Helped lead team to a 8-3 record as a senior … Coached in high school by Ron Selesky.