Can Ole Miss Beat LSU and Alabama for 4-Star ATH Recruit Devin White?

The race to land 4-star athlete Devin White appears to be winding down to a handful of SEC West powers.

According to Scout’s Chad Simmons, White admitted that schools such as Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU and Ole Miss would be among the schools in his top six, “if I had one.”

Of that group, a trio of schools appear to be in line to host White for official visits in the fall.

"LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss will definitely get official visits,” White told Simmons. “I do not know dates, and I do not have any official visits set up yet, but I know those three are schools I will visit."

The Tide and Tigers have gone head-to-head numerous times in recent years over touted prospects who hail from the Pelican State. However, Ole Miss is hoping to beat out both powerhouses for White.

Can head coach Hugh Freeze and the Rebels land the nation’s No. 5 athlete and 77th-overall player in the 2016 class?

There are a few factors that should help the Rebels remain in the hunt for the stud two-way standout.

For starters, as Simmons noted, White is close friends with 5-star quarterback and current Rebels pledge Shea Patterson—who played his last two seasons of high school football in Louisiana before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida over the summer.

The 6’1”, 258-pound White could play either running back or linebacker at the next level.

According to Ourlads, Ole Miss is projected to have senior starters at running back and both linebacker positions this fall—which could present a talent such as White with an opportunity to get on the field early, should he head to Oxford.

Additionally, the Rebels are riding a wave of momentum on the recruiting trail. Currently, Freeze and his staff have built an impressive class that currently ranks No. 5 in 247Sports' team rankings.

"

My college decision will be the most important decision that I will make in my life!!! I want it to be right

— GAME CHANGER (@DevinWhite_40) August 7, 2015"

Coincidentally, the only two SEC schools above them are LSU and Alabama.

While the Rebels have had success in their recent recruiting classes, Freeze knows that wins on the recruiting trail for players such as White can help the Rebels climb the ladder to the top of the brutal SEC West.

The fact that White has the Rebels on his short list with the Tide and the Tigers is a signal that they will be a factor in his decision.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.