Ole Miss suffered a huge blow to its 2017 recruiting class when 4-star linebacker Willie Gay announced he was backing off an early pledge to the Rebels.
The 6'1 ½", 215-pounder from Starkville High School in Mississippi had been committed to the Rebels since June.
Gay, who rates as the nation's No. 6 outside linebacker and the No. 88 player overall in the 2017 cycle, recorded 84 tackles—including 17 tackles for loss with nine pass breakups and six sacks, per MaxPreps—as a junior.
Despite his decommitment, the Rebels figure to still be in the mix to regain his pledge in the future.