Hometown Flavor?

Oxford, Miss., quarterback Jeremy Liggins was a frequent visitor at Ole Miss' opening week of fall practices last week. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Lafayette County product was spotted at as many as four practices in a six day span.

"I just wanted to see what they are going to look like next year," Liggins said. "I also wanted to see what their young talent looked like."

The Rebels did a bang up job inside the borders of Mississippi last season and that has really caught Liggins' attention.

"I feel like, during the recruiting process, I got to know a lot of those guys. They were always coming up to Oxford for their visits, and I would go hang out with them. I also got to compete against a lot of them at the camps and on the football field. We have all become really close. I know by watching them practice that I can get in there, and step it up, and we all could work together nicely."

The Rebels added a strong wide receiver corps in this 2011 recruiting class, which isn't lost on Liggins.

"All of them have so much talent. You need a deep threat, well, just look for Nick Brassell, Donte Moncrief, and Tobias Singleton. I have thrown to them at the (football) camps, and I know what they can do. You can just throw them a screen and they can take it 90 yards and make you look real good. I know they have the speed where I can just throw it deep, and they can go get the ball. That is a big plus for me, for sure."

The Ole Miss quarterbacks struggled at their first scrimmage and that did not go unnoticed.

"That is what makes me want to go to Ole Miss so much because I know there is a real possibility I could go in there and play early and start learning on the run in the SEC. Their coaches are just telling me that if I come in and get the job, I will get it, but it all depends on how I perform in practice when I get there. From what I have seen at their practices, if I do what I am supposed to do, I think I can get the job. I really do."

What stands out the most about Ole Miss right now?

"It is an opportunity for me to stay home and let my folks not only see my games but also see my practices. And if I have any family problems, I can just go down the road and take care of business. Not many players get that opportunity. I also know their coaches are going to look out for my best interest. They have really stayed on me about my books and just doing right in general ever since I got in high school. They treat me like family over there. I guess what sticks out the most to me is that they look like they are going to be an SEC championship caliber team coming up in the next few years. I know all of those guys they have recruited in the past couple of classes, and I would like to be a part of that."

Four schools remain out in front of the others.

"My main schools are still Ole Miss, Alabama, MSU, and LSU but I still like Miami. They offered me a while back and that was my dream school to go to since I was a little kid. I have not totally eliminated them, but I have not been talking to them like I have those other four schools. I am also still considering Nebraska because as a youngster they were my team because they ran the option. They also offered me a couple of months back, and they have been recruiting me real hard. It is just a good school to go to."

Which colleges have offered Scout.com's #31 nationally rated quarterback:?

"Man, that's a tough question because there have been so many. All of the SEC schools have offered me outside of Florida and South Carolina. Miami, Nebraska, Southern Cal, and Oregon are a few outside of the SEC that come off of the top of my head. There are just so many."

Does Jeremy plan to attend anymore college practices in the future?

"I have been to Ole Miss a few times, but now it is time for our football season. We play maybe our biggest regular season game of my career tonight in Tupelo. We are just excited to get our season going and try and extend our (16 game) winning streak. I will be going to a few SEC games in the fall, and I will take some official visits to some schools who are far away like Miami and Nebraska. I am in the middle of setting those up right now."

Will a decision come after Liggins' season?

"Yes, I am really just trying to finish the season on a good note and enjoy the recruiting process. I am pretty sure I am going to just see what happens after the season is over, unless it just feels right to go ahead and get it over with, but right now my plans are to wait it out."

Jeremy injured his left hand in their jamboree against S' Haven last Saturday. How is the injury holding up?

"I have a little fracture in my left hand but it feels good. I have been putting ice on it and just resting it more than anything. I do not have to have surgery on it or anything. It will heal on its on. I have been going full go in practice and it feels good."

Tupelo is one of the better teams in Mississippi's largest classification, 6A. Lafayette County is the defending 4A champs, and they are looking to prove they are one of the better teams in the state regardless of classification.

"We are just ready to prove everybody wrong. Everybody thinks we can't compete against the 6A schools, but tonight is going to give us a chance to show everyone we can play with anybody in the state. Our whole team is just itching to get it started. To go 16-0 last season and get the chance to open up against Tupelo. Well, it does not get any better than this."

This offseason Jeremy has keyed in on his passing game.

"The passing game is my main focus because I know on the next level you have to be able to throw the ball to win. I have been working on changing my release point and getting it higher. It is hard to change your release point. It's been tough, but I am getting more and more confident with it. I have also been working on my footwork and moving around in the pocket. I am stepping up in the pocket and getting rid of the ball instead of scrambling around. I am just trying to become more of an effective pocket passer."

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Yancy Porter is the Mississippi Scout for Scout.com and he can be reached at [e-mail]