I mean how often have you read a title like that? A top 100 recruit, on the defensive line, choosing the Rebels over those three names? That doesn’t include Auburn, Florida, Oregon or Tennessee.
Times have certainly changed, but Pete Golding can clearly recruit with the best of them. Yea, there is a long way to go and there is a decent chance this flips a time or two but still a great start to the class.
4 – Star Antavion Allen out of Hattiesburg is ranked the #2 player in the state of Mississippi, #10 nationally at his position and #92 overall. He is the second commit of the 2028 class and the second one from the state.
The 2027 class already has four, 4-star defensive tackle commits, adding Allen a year later shows you the priority for Pete Golding — depth in the trenches and win the in-state recruiting battles.
The defensive line will look quite different next year as Oatis and Echoles will certainly be gone and then transfers in and out will always be a factor.
Here is the size of the recruits on the line committed over the next two seasons:
Mitchell Turner – 6’3” 275
Ben’Jarvius Shumaker – 6’3” 270
Marvin Nguestop – 6’7” 268
Jamarkus Pittman – 6’3.5” 320
Antavion Allen – 6’4” 289
They will get their weight up as they get into a college program, but it’s clear bulking up the trenches is key and Allen is the second biggest dude on the way in.