Van Jefferson Commits to Ole Miss: Will 4-Star WR Compete Right Away?

Van Jefferson quickly found a new home in the SEC just days after announcing his decommitment from Georgia. 

The 4-star wide receiver announced intentions to attend Ole Miss on Sunday following an unofficial visit to Oxford:

Jefferson, a 6'2", 183-pound playmaker from Ravenwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee, previously pledged to Georgia in August. He remained locked into that verbal pact until Jan. 20, when he elected to reopen an expansive recruitment. 

Given the timing of his decommitment—Jefferson had just returned from an official visit at Oklahoma and hosted Bob Stoops for an in-home visit—many experts suspected he was leaning toward the Sooners.

"Sources have indicated that Jefferson's visit to OU over the weekend blew him away," wrote Barton Simmons of 247Sports last week. "Many have seen Jefferson's recruitment as a Ole Miss-Georgia battle but Oklahoma's January push is going to be tough for either program to beat."

Instead, he's staying put in the SEC and adds a new dimension to the Rebels' 2015 recruiting class. It's a move that has been on Jefferson's mind for some time, though he wanted to ensure the support of his family.

“It’s just a home environment,” Jefferson told Simmons. “I always wanted to go down there but my dad had reservations about it. He’s on board with it now. He told me he wants what’s best for me. I picked it so it’s time to get rolling.”

Hugh Freeze secures a dynamic downfield threat who caught 154 passes for 2,481 yards and 27 touchdowns as an upperclassman at Ravenwood Academy. Jefferson rates 11th nationally among wide receivers in 247Sports' composite rankings and 108th overall in the 2015 class. 

He becomes the first Ole Miss receiver commit in this cycle but could soon be joined by fellow 4-star talent Damarkus Lodge. The Texas product piled up 135 receptions for 2,473 yards and 47 scores as an upperclassman en route to consecutive state title game MVP honors.

Lodge decommitted from Texas A&M early during the 2014 season and spent time in Oxford this past weekend with Jefferson. 

"We hit it off real well," Jefferson told Simmons. "I know Damarkus from The Opening so we already had a really good relationship so this weekend, it was pretty fun. ... I’m definitely going to do some recruiting."

Jefferson can expect a tough test while attempting to break into the Rebels' receiving rotation. 

Quincy Adeboyejo, Laquon Treadwell, Cody Core and tight end Evan Engram are each expected to reprise key roles as veterans in the Ole Miss passing attack, while rising sophomore Markell Pack is poised to build off a strong finish to his freshman year.

An opportunity for immediate reps may not present itself in Oxford, but replacements will be needed atop the depth chart in 2016. That's when Jefferson—and perhaps Lodge—will he able to truly make their mark at Ole Miss.

"I’m very confident in myself coming in and playing early. I have no doubt in that. No matter who they have on the roster," he told Simmons. "I'm going to go down there and get to work."

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.