National Signing Day 2021: Predicting where top 10 unsigned recruits sign

4. Tywone Malone, DT, 4-star

Prediction: Ole Miss Rebels

Much like with Arnold potentially wanting to play college basketball, we have another two-sport athlete here. However, it should be said that it would actually be a shock if Tywone Malone didn’t end up playing baseball wherever he lands rather than a bonus. That’s the type of high-caliber athlete we’re talking about with the Oradell, NJ native.

Ranked as the No. 59 overall recruit and No. 6 defensive tackle in the 2021 class, Malone is a mountain of a young man at 6-foot-3.5 and 300 pounds. While he is a bit raw from a technical aspect, his ability to gain leverage and control offensive linemen with power is impressive against both the run and pass.

Leading up to National Signing Day, Malone has certainly been doing his due diligence with visits to Florida State, Texas A&M and Ole Miss in January. It figures that all three programs also have talented baseball teams given the young man’s aspirations. My prediction, though, is that Lane Kiffin’s Rebels end up inking his services.

The success Ole Miss had in Kiffin’s first year as the head coach can’t be discounted. It’s clear he has the offense in line already but simply needs to get the defense to follow suit. That’s a pitch that Malone can buy into and, subsequently, he could be one of the linchpins of what is shaping into a top-20 class.