Elite recruits react to Ole Miss’ upset of Alabama

Many of the nation’s top college prospects visited Alabama on Saturday to watch Ole Miss pull off an upset of the Crimson Tide.

Here’s what some of the elite recruits had to say about the SEC West showdown:

DE Jeffery Simmons, Noxubee County (Miss.) (undecided) — “Defenses win championships in my eyes. (Ole Miss) defense played a great game, especially the defensive front …(Alabama) sacked Chad Kelly like four or five times. I think they sacked him three times in a row. They made some good stands on goal-line (situations), and they forced a lot of three-and-outs.”

ATH Malcolm Askew, McAdory (Ala.) (undecided) — “I loved it. Ole Miss didn’t play like the underdog. They went toe-to-toe with Alabama. They had some bounce their way but they kept on the ball unlike Alabama. Ole Miss just came to play and wanted the win more.”

OL Chandler Tuitt, Sandy Creek (Ga.) (committed to Ole Miss) — “I think Ole Miss played a great game, but sometimes I saw when they are ahead they let up some. And we can’t do that. We have to play with no mercy if they want to go all the way. It was still a great game and I love that at the end of the third quarter Alabama fans were leaving. But it was a heck of a game and Alabama kept it interesting.”

LB Ben Davis, Gordo (Ala.) (undecided) — “Alabama’s turnovers beat them. Ole Miss played really fast and they surprised me. Both teams played hard but it just wasn’t Alabama’s night. Both teams executed on both sides of the ball.”

QB Jake Fromm, Houston County (Ga.) (undecided) — “I thought Ole Miss played a great game. It was a great atmosphere. Alabama had those five turnovers that led to easy points. But I’m surprised after all of that Alabama was still in the game.”

DE Charles Wiley, Stockbridge (Ga.) (committed to Ole Miss) — “It was a great game. Ole Miss came out hard in the first half and played fast off the ball. They let up a little bit at the end but after the game-winning pick they sealed the deal. They showed that they are a national championship team on Saturday, and I’m proud to be a Landshark.”

DB Deangelo Gibbs, Peachtree Ridge (Ga.) (undecided) — “It was crazy. The amount of turnovers Alabama had. Ole Miss executed on all of them.”

OL Jack DeFoor, Calhoun (Ga.) (committed to Ole Miss) — “It made me excited to know that I have the opportunity to play for a program that can beat a team like Alabama two years in a row. Coach Hugh Freeze said that this is the ‘new normal’, and it will be fun to be a part of it next year.”