How 4-Star Javon Patterson's Commitment to Ole Miss Shakes Up SEC Landscape

Ole Miss gained a pivotal pickup for its 2015 recruiting class Thursday morning when in-state standout Javon Patterson pledged to the Rebels. The 4-star offensive lineman selected Ole Miss from a final group of favorites that included Auburn and Mississippi State:

Patterson, a senior at Petal High School, is the 14th commitment for head coach Hugh Freeze. The Rebels have assembled another strong class, one that now rates 19th nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings and still has room to expand.

Considered a blue-chip prospect, Patterson becomes the team's top-rated recruit in a group that features five composite 4-star players. He joins coveted Tennessee offensive tackle Drew Richmond as building blocks for a strong offensive front in Oxford.

Patterson, a U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection, follows the footsteps of top-ranked 2014 guard Roderick Taylor, another in-state standout who signed with the program in February. There are mounting reasons for Rebels fans to be excited about a future rushing attack that's also set to add promising 2015 Georgia running back Eric Swinney.

While Ole Miss moves forward with its new prized pledge, let's take a look at teams left exploring other options. Patterson previously told 247Sports reporter Keith Niebuhr (subscription required) that along with Ole Miss, his top five featured Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi State and Florida.

Alabama

The Crimson Tide already hold commitments from an impressive collection of 2015 offensive linemen. It became clear in recent months that Auburn was the program most likely to lure Patterson to the state of Alabama.

Nick Saban landed No. 1 overall tackle Cam Robinson last signing day, and he quickly developed into an anchor up front for the team. Tremendous reinforcements are on the way next year.

Lester Cotton, Brandon Kennedy, Richie Petitbon and Dallas Warmack are all 4-star linemen who've committed to the Crimson Tide. Still, Saban remains on the hunt, and 6'7" Maryland product Isaiah Prince may be at the forefront of that charge.

Auburn

Behind Ole Miss, Auburn was picked most as Patterson's potential landing spot in 247Sports' Crystal Ball projections. He visited campus multiple times throughout the year, including an October trip to watch the Tigers rout LSU.

Auburn doesn't quite have the stockpile of offensive line talent Alabama possesses, but Gus Malzahn has managed to assemble one of the SEC's top groups. He plundered Georgia during earlier stages of this cycle, securing commitments from Peach State prospects Kaleb Kim, Marquel Harrell and Bailey Sharp.

Auburn beat out Alabama in June for 4-star in-state guard Tyler Carr. There's a chance the Tigers would've lost a current lineman commit if Patterson joined the class Thursday.

The team is awaiting a decision from 5-star Florida tackle Martez Ivey, who deserves consideration as the country's top overall recruit. The Gators' dismissal of head coach Will Muschamp should enhance the chances of him landing at Auburn.

Credit: 247Sports

Florida

Despite a favorable initial outlook, the Gators seemed to fall by the wayside during this pursuit. Muschamp struggled to keep a once-promising class together, as his program sputtered on the field.

Florida, which offered Patterson a scholarship in May, is down to just nine commitments. The group includes four offensive linemen, but none carry a higher distinction than a 3-star rating.

The Gators once appeared to be front-runners for Ivey, but the Florida phenom is now viewed as an Auburn lean. His relationship with Florida is at least in limbo until a new coaching staff is hired.

Another potential target to keep any eye on here is in-state guard Jalen Merrick, who is spending this weekend at Arkansas for an official visit.

Mississippi State

This is where missing on Patterson probably hurts most. The Bulldogs identified him as a top priority early in the process and remained diligent throughout his recruitment.

Dan Mullen and company welcomed Patterson to campus for the season opener against Southern Miss and continued to keep tabs on him through the finish line. A class that currently rates 13th nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings would have been bolstered by an addition like him.

Mississippi State has thrived with in-state recruiting, holding commitments from top talents like defensive back Jamal Peters and receiver Malik Dear. Patterson had the potential to put this group over the top and potentially set the stage for a surprising top-10 class.

The Bulldogs are in solid shape along the offensive line, though this group is a bit top-heavy at skill positions. Tommy Champion is a promising 4-star tackle with a formidable frame, while out-of-state pledges Darryl Williams (Alabama), Trey Derouen (Louisiana) and Harrison Moon (Tennessee) provide immediate depth.

Mullen will aim to further fortify the position by continuing to target other possibilities. The team could look to the junior college route, where tackle Martinas Rankin remains a strong option.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.