Morning Report: Just How Good is Ole Miss Rebels QB Commit Austin Simmons?

Welcome to the Morning Report, a piece from The Grove Report that highlights the news from the day surrounding the Ole Miss Rebels.

Today is June 20, 2023, and here's the news you need to know out of Oxford.

1. A quote in a story from On3 compared Ole Miss quarterback commit Austin Simmons to Tua Tagovailoa on Monday.

The quote came from an anonymous Power Five offensive coach, and the praise is certainly high for the new addition to the Rebels' quarterback room. Ole Miss flipped Simmons from the Florida Gators over the weekend, but can he live up to the hype once he sees the field?

2. Wide receiver Zakhari Franklin has been listed among the 'most impactful' transfers in the Power Five entering this season.

Franklin joined the Rebels this offseason from the UTSA Roadrunners, coming at a good time on the heels of Chris Marshall's dismissal from the team. Franklin is already gaining some notice in Oxford as he tries to put his record-setting abilities to the test in 2023.

3. Pro Football Focus has Ashanti Cistrunk among the highest-graded returning SEC linebackers this season.

Cistrunk will be a key cog in Pete Golding's new defensive scheme at Ole Miss. Can he continue his positive momentum in 2023?

4. Preseason preview of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets began on Monday and will continue through this week.

You can find the overarching preview and first installment written by Cole Thompson here.

5. How has NIL affected Egg Bowl recruiting? Steven Willis dives in on the Locked On Ole Miss Podcast.

Today's installment of the show talks about the Egg Bowl from a recruiting perspective. How is the NIL landscape shaping the battles within the state? You can find today's show on our homepage.

You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie.

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Want even more Ole Miss Rebels News? Check out the SI.com team page here.