Ever since Eli Acker was young, he wanted to play for Ole Miss. It soon became his lifelong dream.
Acker, a three-year captain for Heritage Academy, committed to the Rebels his sophomore year of high school.
But in the weeks leading to the early signing period his senior year, he began to have second thoughts. Former head coach Matt Luke was fired a few days after a painful Egg Bowl loss, and Acker found out the news when two Ole Miss assistant coaches were visiting with him in his living room. He saw the ugly side of the coaching industry early.
After hearing the news, Acker, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound four-star tackle according to ESPN, took an official visit to Mississippi State in December.
But there was still one place his heart was set.
“I think when he committed as a sophomore, he committed to the school, not the staff,” Heritage Academy coach Sean Harrison said.
Once Ole Miss hired Lane Kiffin, the Rebels invited Acker to take another visit to Oxford.
On Sunday, Acker took to social media and posted a video clip from the film Wolf of Wall Street where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character basically tells his co-workers a more profane version of “I’m not leaving.”
Besides the video clip, Acker’s tweet contained a red circle and a blue circle, letting the Ole Miss faithful know that he too wasn’t going anywhere.
“I went to the official visit and I remembered all the reasons I committed in the first place,” Acker said. “This is a special town and I loved that place.”
Acker met with Kiffin and was told by the coaching staff they plan to keep him at tackle instead of moving him to a guard.
“(Kiffin) had a special message for me,” Acker said. “He reassured me that they really wanted me and I was the one they needed.”
Acker put his pen to paper Wednesday and signed his national letter of intent with the Rebels.
“I think he went and explored opportunities, but he had a great visit with Ole Miss and I think he’s really excited about playing for them,” Harrison said.
Sitting next to Acker was high school teammate Jared Long, a wide receiver for the Patriots. Long signed with FCS program Central Arkansas Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s always great when two players sign with Division I teams,” Harrison said. “It’s a testament to their parents and their upbringing. A lot of things have to come together to get that kind of opportunity so I’m really proud of them.”
Long, a crucial member of the undefeated state championship Heritage Academy team along with Acker, openly admitted the butterflies he felt when he made his signing official.
“I’m happy and sad all in one,” Long said. “It’s a dream come true, but it’s kind of sad my senior year is coming to an end. I’m extremely excited for the next chapter, though.”
Long said Central Arkansas came in late in the recruiting process, but the staff definitely came in hard.
“They were texting me almost every day,” Long said. “I have a shoebox full of Central Arkansas letters as well.”
“Central Arkansas did a great job recruiting him,” Harrison said. “It’s a great opportunity and a great program.”
Entering his freshman collegiate year, Long said he expects to compete for playing time immediately.
“I’ve talked to the coach and everything, I expect to play as a freshman right away,” Long said. “Of course, I have to go down there and work for it.”
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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