Most Impactful Rebels for 2019: No. 36 Freshman QBs Tisdale, Dent and Plumlee
OXFORD, Miss. — As we count down the days until the Ole Miss season opener against Memphis in the Liberty Bowl, we are releasing who we think the Top 50 Most Impactful Players will be for the Rebels this season. This series is a way for Ole Miss fans to learn more about players to keep an eye on this fall.
With 36 days before kickoff, coming in at No. 36…
QBs: Grant Tisdale, Kinkead Dent, and John Rhys Plumlee
Since the backup spot at quarterback remains very much up for grabs, we believe it would be misguided to name only one of the three incoming freshman signal callers to our countdown list of Most Impactful Rebels for 2019. So, we’ll talk a little bit about each of these three young men as any one of them could potentially make a big impact on this season if something were to happen to starting quarterback Matt Corral.
Grant Tisdale
Tisdale, at 6-foot-0, 205-pounds, was a consensus four-star quarterback according to ESPN and Rivals, and he was ranked as the No. 12 dual-threat quarterback in the country by Rivals.
As a senior at Allen, Texas, Tisdale finished with 47 touchdowns and only four interceptions over the course of the season. Over his career, he scored 101 touchdowns with 69 passing and 32 rushing touchdowns and threw for over 5,000 yards. Tisdale led his team to a perfect 16-0 season during his junior season en route to winning the 2017 6A State Championship.
Looking good Grant Tisdale!! Do us proud in North Texas!! 😳🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/uDrpB1UoQV
— Robert McAllister (@CoachMack28) April 6, 2019
He signed with Ole Miss in the class of 2019 and early enrolled during the spring. He completed 3-of-5 passes for 37 yards and a touchdown in the Grove Bowl.
Kinkead Dent
At 6-foot-5, 189-pounds, Dent was a three-star prospect according to ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports, and he ranked as the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the state of Mississippi when he signed with Ole Miss in the class of 2019.
At Jackson Academy, Dent threw for 1,365 yards, completing 88-of-170 passes, and rushed for 909 yards and 26 combined touchdowns during his senior season.
Dent early enrolled this spring and competed in the Grove Bowl, finishing 4-of-12 passes for 36 yards and rushing for another 50 yards on six attempts on the ground.
Kinkead Dent @kinkeaddent_1 looking good in his first test as an @OleMissFB Rebel QB. Strong arm, good carries. #GroveBowl Spring Game. Proud Dad @HayesDent1. pic.twitter.com/vTxOrGw0QW
— Chris Henick (@HCHenick) April 6, 2019
John Rhys Plumlee
John Rhys Plumlee, at 6-foot-0, 180-pounds, was a four-star prospect out of Hattiesburg, according to ESPN and 247Sports, and he ranked as the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in the nation.
Plumlee was named the Mississippi Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year his senior year, after throwing for 2,834 yards with 33 touchdowns and three interceptions along with 1,444 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground at Oak Grove High School.
Here is what Ole Miss signee John Rhys Plumlee had to say today. Gotta love this young man. Very glad he’s a Rebel! #HottyToddy (Video credit: Ashley Holford) pic.twitter.com/9uhUJKl6GA
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) February 6, 2019
Plumlee, who did not early enroll and participate in spring practices, is a very talented baseball player, so he finished out the spring semester of his senior year so he could participate with his high school team. He will be on the diamond for the Rebels during his time Oxford.
News and notes on the three freshmen QBs
One of these three will be the backup for Matt Corral after the completion of fall camp. There had been talk the super-athletic Plumlee might move to another position on the team; however, head coach Matt Luke dismissed that notion at SEC Media Days in Hoover on July 16th.
“No, he’s going to be at quarterback.”
Ole Miss Head Coach Matt Luke on Plumlee
Plumlee’s ability to run, combined with his high passing completion rate, could very well lead to him to being named the Corral’s backup at the end of fall camp. But make no mistake, Dent and Tisdale are quite talented and will do all they can to earn the job. Coach Luke was asked which of the two, Dent or Tisdale, he thought had the edge after their performances in the Grove Bowl.
“I think we will know more in August. Probably Grant (Tisdale), just throwing the touchdown, probably had a little more of an edge today, but they both did some things with their legs.”
Coach Luke on Dent and Tisdale after the Grove Bowl
It is entirely possible that at least one of the three QBs could redshirt this fall if Corral stays healthy and none of the freshmen go over the four-game limit. Offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez has perhaps the youngest quarterback room in the nation, but he also has one of the most talented. It will be fun to watch them compete this fall.
Hotty Toddy!
Top 50 Most Impactful Rebels:
36. Grant Tisdale, Kinkead Dent, John Rhys Plumlee
37. Keidron Smith
38. Snoop Conner
39. Michael Howard
40. Vernon Dasher
41. Ryder Anderson
42. D’Vaughn Pennamon
43. C.J. Miller
44. Charles Wiley
45. Sincere David
46. Mac Brown
47. Jason Pellerin
48. Chandler Tuitt
49. Dannis Jackson
50. Jonathan Mingo
Derrell Hart
Derrell has covered Ole Miss athletics in the past for Rebels247 at 247Sports. He attended Delta State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Biology. He is currently pursuing his Pharm.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy with an expected graduation of May, 2020.
