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How Resignation of Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss Might Help OSU in Recruiting

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Amid a discovery of what Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports deemed as “explosive new information,” Hugh Freeze resigned on Thursday evening from his post as head coach at Ole Miss.

According to Forde’s reporting, the university found at least one call from the embattled head coach to an escort service made from his school-issued cell phone. Freeze, of course, denied any wrongdoing and reasoned it away by saying it “might have been misdial.” But in the court of public opinion – and especially in the eyes of his bosses – reasons for calling an escort service matter not. Freeze is out effective immediately, leaving the Mississippi program in a massive quandary with a full-on NCAA investigation still ongoing.

Although the Rebs are in a totally different conference, the latest to transpire in Oxford could bode well for Oklahoma State, and it’s no surprise that the biggest war to be won for Mike Gundy’s program is on the recruiting front, where OSU has typically fell short of Ole Miss and its recent success in that category.

Most relevant is OSU’s continued pursuit of 2018 defensive tackle Israel Antwine, a Millwood (OKC area) prospect committed to the Rebels program since May. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound recruit has been one of the Cowboys’ top targets at d-tackle, along with junior college prospect Tayland Humphrey, and this latest development could thrust OSU into the conversation.

Since committing to Ole Miss, Antwine and OSU coaches have remained in constant contact. He even visited campus earlier this spring, and posted a photo of an OSU edit just days ago proving the staff remains highly interested.

https://twitter.com/IsraelAntwine/status/887823275484696576

Staying committed during an ongoing NCAA investigation is one thing, but doing so after the head coach resigns, given the amount of uncertainty that continues to balloon around the Ole Miss program, is a whole different ball game.

With only one commitment along the defensive line in defensive end Tyler Lacy, OSU has plenty of space to take in Antwine, who I believe could have wondering eyes when it comes to his recruitment. Expect OSU to make a big push in the coming days and weeks to try and keep the in-state standout local.

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