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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Cutcliffe Announces Signing of Northwest Wide Receiver
7/20/2000 | Football
July 20, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. -- - Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe announced here Thursday the signing of Northwest (Miss.) Community College wide receiver Omar Rayford to a football scholarship.
"Omar will be an excellent addition to our receiver corps," Cutcliffe said. "He had an all-star career at Northwest and gives us a quality receiver with college experience."
Rayford, a 6-2, 185 pounder from Holly Springs, Miss., is expected to join the Rebels August 4 when the 2000 signee class reports to campus.
During his two years playing for Coach Bobby Ray Franklin at Northwest, Rayford caught 81 passes for 1,584 yards and 17 TDs, averaging 19.6 yards per reception. As a sophomore in 1999, he led Region 23 with 66 catches for 1,360 yards and 15 TDs, which ranked second in the nation in receiving yardage and third in receptions. Rayford, who averaged 4.5 receptions per game, earned honorable mention All-America honors, was the Region 23 Most Valuable Receiver, was a first team All-Region 23 selection, and was named first team All-State.
As a freshman in 1998, Rayford finished sixth on the team with 15 receptions for 224 yards and two TDs, averaging 14.9 yards per reception.
During his prep career at Holly Springs, Rayford earned three football letters, playing receiver, quarterback, safety, cornerback, and place-kicker. He earned All-District honors as a junior and senior, plus made All-State while playing for Coach Sammie Greer. Rayford also earned three high school letters in basketball, two in track, and one in baseball. He was an All-District pick as a point guard in basketball after the 1997-98 season.
