Calvary Christian (Fla.) offensive lineman Preston Cushman visited Oxford in June to meet new offensive line coach Jake Thornton and to undergo a private workout. That, paired with a full tour of the facilities, campus and town with his parents was enough to hold off the in-state Florida Gators and Dan Mullen
Cushman received an offer from the SEC East program shortly after his unofficial visit to Gainesville at the end of June, but it was the connection that he made with Thornton and Lane Kiffin that won him over and pushed him to a verbal commitment to the Rebels.