Ole Miss has been working on a very strong defensive back class for 2025, with three four-star pledges and one highly respected three-star. The Rebs have signed Pensacola’s Ladarian Clardy, another four-star defensive back.
Clardy is presently ranked as the #180 overall player in the country, with offers from Georgia, Michigan, Miami, Florida State, Florida, Washington, Arkansas, and a number of other schools, making him the highest-rated Ole Miss commit thus far.
Clardy is listed at 5’11 and 175 pounds, depending on where you check. Clardy is a little undersized, but he appears to have excellent all-around athleticism, particularly with the ball in the air.
Looking at some early season highlights from this year, it appears like Clardy is having the greatest influence on his Escambia HS team at wide receiver. Clardy scores two massive receiving touchdowns in his recent game reel, makes a couple of other big catches, and turns in a pair of extremely great punt returns.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Ladarian Clardy has Committed to Ole Miss, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’0 180 S from Pensacola, FL chose the Rebels over LSU & Florida State
“It’s time I take over the Sip🦈”https://t.co/KkDeGNt4w4 pic.twitter.com/vNXJKKsKcv
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 21, 2024
His junior year full-season highlights display not only his defensive strength, but also his impressive ball skills. In addition to safety and wide receiver, Clardy is seen playing quarterback near the goal line. Clardy attacks the ball in the air with his hands on both offense and defense, making contested catches and gaining yards after the catch thanks to his balance and quickness.
I’m tempted to compare Clardy to 2024 Ole Miss signee Noreel White, who is now a reserve wide receiver. White, who had a similar frame to Clardy, was versatile enough to play offense or defense and was a multi-sport athlete in high school.
I noted the Rebs’ already-strong defensive back class at the beginning of this piece, but it’s worth delving deeper into. In addition to Clardy, Ole Miss has signed four-star safety Keon Young (#269 overall), four-star corner Maison Dunn (#274 overall), four-star safety Cortez Thomas (#300 overall), and three-star safety Major Preston.
After this season, the Rebs will lose three of their top four cornerbacks (Trey Amos, Isaiah Hamilton, and Bandon Turnage), as well as FIVE senior safety players (Trey Washington, John Saunders, Louis Moore, Key Lawrence, and Yam Banks). They’ll most certainly need some portal supplements to fill these open slots, but it’s encouraging to see Pete Golding and his team looking to attract some long-term secondary contributors.
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