Deontay Anderson to Ole Miss: Rebels Land 4-Star Safety Prospect

Dynamic 4-star safety Deontay Anderson announced Wednesday he will play college football for the Ole Miss Rebels.

Anderson announced his commitment through a Bleacher Report video:

Anderson is the second-ranked safety in the 2016 class, the eighth-ranked player out of Texas and the 53rd-best prospect overall in 247Sports' composite rankings.

The Manvel High School star from Texas has all of the physical faculties to be an elite player in Ole Miss' secondary. Strong football instincts and a knack for stepping up in run support should help Anderson see the field quickly—on special teams at the very least.

Tom Lemming of the CBS Sports Network highlighted how fast Anderson is, citing his prowess as a track sprinter:

Where he has some room for improvement is in coverage. The 18-year-old did make strides in that area as a senior, hinting at just how strong of an all-around player he has the potential to be.

TexasFootball.com's James Lott wrote in August 2014 that he believes Anderson has the makings of being a pro someday:

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This is one of the best HS football players I have seen this year. Jumps out at you in person up close, even as a freshman, leaving me to say 'coach, who the hell is that kid.' Offered as a sophomore by Alabama, LSU, Texas and others. One of the best 2016 prospects in the country. NFL safety in the making. Can change the outcome of the game by himself. Can fly. Sprinter on the track team.

"

Listed at 6'1" and 192 pounds by 247Sports, Anderson already has the length, strength and the style of play to be effective on the back end. Anderson shows a knack for preventing receivers from winning 50-50 balls, something that will come in handy as he adjusts to the NCAA level.

What should help Anderson in that regard is his demonstrated ability to act fast toward the ball once it's thrown. He flashes exceptional closing speed and can deliver crushing, well-timed hits. 

Another element to Anderson's game that may discourage opposing quarterbacks from throwing at him is his field vision. In addition to thriving in the defensive backfield at Manvel, Anderson has proved to be a great returner, so he could be deployed on kickoff or punt returns for Ole Miss if he doesn't fit into the team's immediate defensive plans.

The Rebels had the 104th-ranked pass defense last season and need tremendous improvement in that area to have a real chance at SEC contention. That isn't necessarily Anderson's forte, but he's the type of safety who can step into the box and help Ole Miss remain stout versus the run.

Stud defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche is headed to the pros as a 2016 NFL draft entrant, so his absence figures to loom large on the front seven. Any contribution Anderson can provide therein is a plus—or he could help the team with field position if he can step up as a return man. 

That type of feel for what to do with the ball in his hands makes Anderson a threat to take an interception to the end zone whenever he gets the opportunity.

Keep Anderson in mind over the next few years as his role with the Rebels evolves, because he should prove to be one of the better players in the country to come out of the 2016 class.

Recruit star ratings and rankings via 247Sports, unless otherwise noted.