Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Oakland defensive back Craig Tutt has committed to Ole Miss over Tennessee, Auburn and others, he announced on Friday.
According to Rivals, he’s the No. 117 overall prospect and ninth-ranked safety in America. Tutt also took official visits to Auburn and Tennessee last month.
The four-star 2026 prospect enjoyed a terrific official visit to Oxford that helped seal the deal.
“Overall man, I enjoyed myself,” Tutt told On3 after the visit. “This weekend gave me a lot that I needed whether that was coaches — man, it’s a great coaching staff here. Real family oriented. I got around the players a lot. It’s really family oriented and I like that a lot.
“I really didn’t have any questions, I was just coming to see how it is. How the players are, how the community is, and I love it. The culture is great. Oxford is great. The community is going to take care of you. They don’t even have to know you. They’re great people here and I really like that.”
The Ole Miss staff impressed him in a big way with their plan for the 6-0, 180-pound defensive back. The players backed up all he heard from the coaches.
“Just that their ability to develop you. They’re going to coach you, they’re going to love you and it’s just that culture. You never go wrong,” he said. “I talked to some of the freshmen and they said it was the best decision they ever made and I’ve seen it.
They’re going to make sure you’re straight and take care of you. It’s real family oriented. When I say that, I really mean it. You can tell it’s family as soon as you walk in. It’s not a forced welcome. You feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door.”
Head coach Lane Kiffin and the rest of the staff shared that they can see him all over their defense.
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“All the coaches are family oriented. Like I said, you can tell you’re welcomed here. I had a great time. We were just talking. Just building that relationship and connection. It wasn’t a persuading type and I enjoyed that also,” Tutt said. “They see me as very versatile.
I had a lot of meetings. I can play corner, I can play the nickel spot, I can play both safeties. Just them seeing me to be so versatile, I like that. I feel like I can do it all, too. Just me being able to show that put me in a great position.”
As the players spent more time with Tutt, he got a better idea of what it means to be a Rebel with life around Oxford.
“Just the ability to be honest with me, not trying to persuade me to come to a school,” he said. “They want to work. They want to win. They want to win games and they care about you not just for football.
I was talking to Shekai (Mills-Knight) and he really told me what it’s like to be here. I enjoyed that. We got out, walked around the Square a little bit, just the community. They love the players here. Everything about Oxford is just great.”
Tutt’s now a part of an Ole Miss recruiting class that climbs even higher in Top 25 of the 2026 recruiting rankings. His additional offers include Alabama, Penn State, Miami, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Mississippi State, Missouri, Virginia Tech and others.
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