William Echoles is officially an Ole Miss Rebel.
The 6’3″, 295 lb recruit from Houston, MS signed his Letter of Intent this morning in a ceremony in front of friends and family at Houston High School. Ole Miss managed to beat out other SEC schools such as Missouri, Arkansas, and Auburn. Alabama also reportedly threw its hat in the ring late, after Echoles had already given a verbal to Ole Miss.
Ranked as the number four player in the state of Mississippi, and 172 nationally, according to 247Sports. He also won the 4A Mr. Football award in the state. For Ole Miss fans, he’s set to bring immediate talent and depth to the Rebel trenches. The biggest question is where he’ll find himself playing while in Oxford.
Two-Way Talent?
The question surrounding where Echoles ends up playing is because he can be a two-way guy if the Rebels decide to utilize him as such. In his senior season at Houston High School, he recorded 73 tackles, including 23 tackles for loss, as a defensive lineman. Also included during his nine-game regular season was 15 sacks.
However, on the offensive line, he was the primary interior lineman for an offense that averaged nearly 250 rushing yards per game. It’s also worth noting that he primarily took snaps on the offensive line during the MS-AL All-Star game earlier this month.
Where Does Echoles Fit At Ole Miss?
For Ole Miss, it would arguably be better for him to be able to line up on the offensive side of the ball. The Rebels are already bringing in plenty of talent on the defensive line through the portal. So there’s a more pressing need with the offensive line. While he would add depth to the defensive line, lining him on the offensive side of the ball should be the goal.
The only concern with Echoles on the offensive line is his size. Ole Miss already ranked last in the SEC in terms of the weight of its offensive line during the 2023 season, averaging 303 lbs. If he can put on weight, it could be a good fit. However, with his current stature, the idea of him seeing a ton of snaps on the offensive line as a freshman may be slim.
Regardless of where he lines up, Echoles’ versatility and quickness is a difference maker for the Rebels. Given the time to grow and develop, expect him to end up being an every-down lineman in Oxford for years to come.
