Ole Miss managed to seal a gaping hole in their secondary this week. Clemson transfer Tavoy Feagin chose the Rebels mere hours after throwing his name into the transfer portal. Following his move to Oxford, Feagin will still have four years of eligibility for defensive coordinator Pete Golding and the Rebels.
With Ole Miss looking thin in the secondary due to draft picks and injuries during spring practice, landing a transfer cornerback is huge news for Rebel fans everywhere.
So, who is Feagin, and where can we expect him to fit in in Golding’s system?
Ole Miss Goes Portal Shopping
Tavoy Feagin’s High School Career
As a starter at Carrollwood Day in Tampa, Florida, Feagin became known for his length and athleticism. At 6’0, 185 pounds, he’s not the biggest guy around, but his long arms seem to make up for his lack of size. One other concern about his game may potentially be his speed. Early in his high school career, he struggled with quickness. However, by the time he graduated, he was a track standout in the 100m and 200m dash. But regardless of what his true speed proves to be, his ball skills have largely made up for it, to this point. As a senior in high school, he recorded eight interceptions, which was good for fourth in the state of Florida.
All of this was good enough to have him listed as a four-star prospect out of high school, according to 247Sports. At the time, he was also listed as the 28th-best cornerback prospect in the country. After committing to Clemson, clearly he was hoping to develop and get a shot to play under Dabo Swinney. Instead, he only saw the field for 11 snaps over the course of two games, leading to a redshirt.
Now, he heads to Oxford, looking to lead an Ole Miss secondary in desperate need of a rebuild.
Losses in the Rebel Secondary
Feagin’s commitment comes at a vital moment for the Rebel defense. Trey Amos is headed to the draft, likely to be drafted at some point over the course of the first two rounds. Jadon Canady has transferred out of Oxford, ultimately landing with Oregon. Among other notable members of the secondary, both Yam Banks and Trey Washington are out of eligibility.
These losses create a massive hole for the staff to fill in the defensive backfield. The good news for Ole Miss is that initial reports of cornerback Chris Graves Jr entering the transfer portal seem to be untrue, as Graves himself came out shortly after, refuting the reports.
Assuming Graves returns, with Feagin’s arrival, the Rebels have a solid base to start next season, in terms of the secondary. The biggest question now is how much depth they’ll have, especially following spring practice. Earlier during the course of spring practice, Kiffin showed signs of some concern amongst his defensive backs when asked about how the position was looking.
“Well, there’s some injuries there with some guys not practicing, so that’s part of the concern too. So there’s just not a lot of numbers there, and certainly not much experience playing. So it’s just something we’ll have to work through and continue to push guys. And hopefully, as a couple of guys come back from injuries, it’ll look better.”
Generally, that’s a statement that would bring some concern. However, some pressure is certainly eased off with Feagin’s commitment through the portal.
Where Will Feagin Fit Into Golding’s System?
While there’s no question that Feagin should get plenty of snaps this season as a Rebel, the one remaining question is where he fits specifically in this new system. With his primary position being at corner, that’s where he will likely start off. But with his body type and ball skills, if he can put on some weight upon his arrival in Oxford, don’t be surprised if he ultimately transitions to safety.
Golding loves playing an aggressive, physical style of defense. Feagin, with an extra 10-15 pounds on him, becomes a prototypical safety in a Golding scheme. Add in the fact that he has the ball skills of a corner, and he becomes a true weapon for the Ole Miss defense.
However, regardless of where he ends up playing, Feagin’s arrival is a great start to filling a major hole in the Rebel defense.
Main Image: Ken Ruinard – USA TODAY Sports
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