Video Interview with Manvel High School Class of 2016 RB D’Vaughn Pennamon
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Ole Miss has slowly crept up the recruiting rankings currently ranked No. 1 in the nation by Rivals with 20 verbal commits onboard. The Rebels have headline grabbing 5-star recruits in quarterback Shea Patterson and offensive tackle Gregory Little but have several other recruits that are sure to make noise in the SEC before their collegiate careers are finished. One of the many is Manvel High School star running back D’Vaughn Pennamon.
Pennamon, listed at 5’10”, 220 pounds, had an outstanding senior season rushing for 1,586 yards with 24 touchdowns and had 25 receptions for 195 yards with three additional scores. Pennamon helped the Mavericks to an 11-3 season falling short against eventual Texas state champions Katy High School 35-17 in the fourth round of the playoffs. Being one of the top players on one of the top teams in the state of Texas draws a lot of attention, both from college recruiters and from postseason All-Star game coordinators. For his efforts after an All-District season, the Semper Fidelis Bowl coordinators extended another offer to Pennamon, an invitation to play in one of the top high school all-star games in the nation.
On the recruiting front, Ole Miss collected Pennamon’s verbal commitment on July 21, 2015, but that has not stopped other top programs around the nation from trying to flip him. Pennamon has taken official visits to Arkansas (Oct. 31) and to Cal (Dec. 11) but has three more official visits scheduled, Houston, Alabama, and Ole Miss.
In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Pennamon after a practice for the Semper Fidelis All-American Game. I got an all-star game practice and recruiting news update on the running back for the West squad during our video interview.
Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl Information
Location: Carson, California
Site: StubHub Center
Date: Jan. 3, 2016
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m.
Coverage: FOX Sports 1
Ole Miss 2016 Verbal Commitment List
CB Greg Eisworth, 5’11”, 182 lbs, South Grand Prairie HS, Grand Prairie, TX
CB Jaylon Jones, 5’11”, 175 lbs, Allen HS, Allen, TX
SS Myles Hartsfield, 6’0”, 195 lbs, East Coast Prep, Great Barrington, MA
DE Charles Wiley, 6’2”, 240 lbs, Stockbridge HS, Stockbridge, GA
DT Benito Jones, 6’0”, 280 lbs, Wayne County, Waynesboro, MS
LB Donta Evans, 6’2”, 220 lbs, Archer HS, Lawrenceville, GA
LB David Luafatasage, 6’4”, 225 lbs, Arizona Western C.C., Yuma, AZ
LB Tariqious Tisdale, 6’5”, 247 lbs, Lexington HS, Lexington, TN
OG Jack DeFoor, 6’4”, 270 lbs, Calhoun HS, Calhoun, GA
OG Eli Johnson, 6’3”, 288 lbs, Lafayette HS, Oxford, MS
OT Gregory Little, 6’5.5”, 300 lbs, Allen HS, Allen, TX
OT Bryce Mathews, 6’6”, 275 lbs, Brentwood Academy, Brentwood, TN
OG Chandler Tuitt, 6’3”, 260 lbs, Sandy Creek HS, Tyrone, GA
QB Shea Patterson, 6’2”, 194 lbs, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
RB Justin Connor, 5’9”, 186 lbs, North Panola HS, Sardis, MS
RB D’Vaughn Pennamon, 5’10”, 220 lbs, Manvel HS, Manvel, TX
RB Jarrion Street, 6’1”, 203 lbs, Hewitt Trussville, Trussville, AL
TE Gabe Angel, 6’3”, 218 lbs, Cookeville HS, Cookeville, TN
TE Octavious Cooley, 6’2”, 240 lbs, Laurel HS, Laurel, MS
WR DeKaylin Metcalf, 6’3”, 210 lbs, Oxford HS, Oxford, MS
Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl helmet West squad.