Coming Full Circle

Reserve, La., product Floyd Raven, rated a three-star cornerback by Scout.com, committed to Ole Miss late Tuesday night.

Floyd Raven originally committed to Ole Miss in December. A month later, however, he was back on the open market.

He had his reasons. Ole Miss safeties coach Kim Dameron, principally responsible for Raven’s recruitment, was no longer a member of the Rebel coaching staff. Raven began to question his decision. He again wanted to weigh his options.

So he visited Utah. Texas A&M, widely considered Ole Miss’ primary competition for the three-star cornerback, made another push. Pittsburgh got involved. Same for Michigan.

Floyd Raven

But late Tuesday night, Raven’s drama-filled January came to a rather quiet end. In a text message to the Ole Miss Spirit, Raven wrote simply, “I’m going to Ole Miss.”

“Guidance from certain people, man, and realizing what I can try and do in my life,” Raven said through text, when asked of why he again chose Ole Miss.

Raven’s recommitment capped a banner day for the Rebels, who also secured a commitment from four-star linebacker C.J. Johnson of Philadelphia, Miss., Tuesday afternoon.

Raven, of Reserve, La., is rated the No. 33 cornerback prospect nationally by Scout.com.

“I want to get out of the New Orleans area and out of Louisiana,” Raven said following his official visit to Ole Miss in December.

“It's nothing against my home, but I just want to experience new things from a new town, learn new things and expand, and it was obvious Oxford is a good fit for me that will allow me to do that.”

Raven is scheduled to visit Michigan this weekend. Whether he will take that visit remains unclear.

“I have a chance to be a playmaker in that (Ole Miss') system,” Raven said in a previous interview. “That was attractive to me. Coach (Chris) Vaughn likes to teach an attacking style and I think Ole Miss can help me reach the next level, like Marshay Green and Cassius Vaughn from two years ago.”

Ole Miss lost senior cornerback Jeremy McGee to graduation. Another was dismissed from the team due to disciplinary reasons. For the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Raven, Ole Miss offers an opportunity for immediate playing time.

“I like the situation I am coming into, but I understand I have a lot of hard work in front of me. It's going to be a challenge,” he said.

Raven projects as a full qualifier, reporting a 3.86 GPA and a 24 on his ACT.