Most Impactful Rebels for 2019: No. 22 Demarcus Gregory
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 22 days before kickoff, coming in at No. 22…
Demarcus Gregory
Demarcus Gregory, a Duncan, South Carolina native, was a four-star prospect at wide receiver according to ESPN and Rivals when he signed with Ole Miss in the class of 2018. He was ranked as the No. 5 player in the state of South Carolina after finishing with 64 catches for 661 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior at wide receiver. Gregory missed his entire senior season due to an ACL injury; however, he still finished his high school career with over 2,100 yards on 110 receptions while notching 10 touchdowns.
Demarcus Gregory at practice Wednesday, August 7. (Photo credit: Petre Thomas, Ole Miss Athletics)
The 6-foot-1, 216-pound Gregory was redshirted during the 2018 season while still recovering from his ACL tear during his final year of high school and following an injury early in fall camp. However, he was able to participate in spring practices.
Last week during Media Day, Ole Miss wide receivers coach Jacob Peeler discussed Gregory’s progress.
“He’s looked really good,” said Peeler, “I’ve said this before, it’s almost like Demarcus is a true freshman coming in this spring. Obviously, he missed his senior year with an injury, then he got injured the second day of fall camp last year and missed the rest of the year, so those fifteen practices in the spring were the first practices he’s had since he’s been here,” Peeler explained.
“You can tell, going back and watching the film, that he’s moving even better now than he was in the spring, so he’s gotten a lot more confidence in that knee,” said Peeler.
Gregory echoed his coach’s sentiment when he talked with the media after practice Wednesday.
”I feel a hundred percent.I feel faster. I just feel the best I’ve felt since my injuries.“
Demarcus Gregory
Coach Peeler is confident in his young player’s ability and looks for him to be an important contributor in 2019.
“He’s a 215-pound receiver. He knows how to use his body. He works extremely hard. He’s just like Elijah Moore outside of this building He’s all business. He wants to be great. I’m expecting big things from him.”
WR Coach Jacob Peeler
With the “Big Three” of A.J. Brown, DaMarkus Lodge, and D.K. Metcalf now playing in the NFL, the Rebels’ younger wide receivers now have their turn to shine.
“None of us have really proven ourselves yet,” Gregory said of he and his young teammates.
“We’re all just hungry to prove ourselves this year. With those big names like D.K. (Metcalf), A.J. (Brown) and (DaMarkus) Lodge…those boys are gone now…so it’s on us. We all want to take the ownership and make plays.”
WR Demarcus Gregory
Gregory was asked after practice Wednesday where he thinks he ranks in the wide receivers room. “I’m up there,” he said. “I’m just doing all I can, working every day and earning the coaches’ trust.”
Watch out for No. 3 on the outside this fall!
Hotty Toddy!
Most Impactful Rebels for 2019
22. Demarcus Gregory
23. Bryce Mathews
24. Royce Newman
25. Tylan Knight
26. Tariqious Tisdale
27. Octavious Cooley
28. Jalen Julius
29. Luke Logan
30. Nick Broeker
31. Austrian Robinson
32. Quentin Bivens
33. Willie Hibbler
34. Isaiah Woullard
35. Jadon Jackson
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.
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