Rebels sign Northwest wideout

Staff and Wire Reports

The Ole Miss coaching staff went a long way toward replacing departed Maurice Flournoy Thursday, when Northwest Community College wide receiver Omar Rayford signed with the Rebels.

"Omar will be an excellent addition to our receiver corps," head coach David Cutcliffe said. "He had an all-star career at Northwest and gives us a quality receiver with college experience."

Rayford, a 6-2, 185-pounder from Holly Springs, is expected to join the Rebels Aug. 4, when the 2000 signee class reports to campus.

Rayford will be eligible to play this year, good news to a corps of receivers that lacks depth and experience. Neither of last year's leading receivers, Cory Peterson and Flournoy, will return.

"I knew I wanted to go to Ole Miss from the start," Rayford told Tom Culpepper of Borderwars.com, a recruiting Web site. "It's a program on the rise. They have some excellent quarterbacks and I think it's a place for a receiver to be."

During his two years playing for Coach Bobby Ray Franklin at Northwest, Rayford caught 81 passes for 1,584 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 19.6 yards per reception. As a sophomore in 1999, he led Region 23 with 66 catches for 1,360 yards and 15 touchdowns, which ranked second in the nation in receiving yardage and third in receptions. His statistics are even more impressive when you consider the fact that he only played two complete games due to blowout wins by his team.

Rayford, who averaged 4.5 receptions per game, earned honorable mention All-America honors, was the Region 23 Most Valuable Receiver, was a first team All-Region 23 selection, and was named first team All-State.

As a freshman in 1998, Rayford finished sixth on the team with 15 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 14.9 yards per reception.

During his prep career at Holly Springs, Rayford earned three football letters, playing receiver, quarterback, safety, cornerback, and place-kicker. He earned All-District honors as a junior and senior, plus made All-State while playing for Coach Sammie Greer. Rayford also earned three high school letters in basketball, two in track, and one in baseball. He was an All-District pick as a point guard in basketball after the 1997-98 season.