Daniel Paulling

The Clarion-Ledger

OXFORD - Ole Miss’ depth at linebacker this fall has received a boost.

Oregon State senior Rommel Mageo signed with the Rebels on Wednesday, intending to transfer to Ole Miss over the summer as a graduate transfer. He'll be immediately eligible to play this fall, his final remaining season of eligibility.

Mageo signed with Oregon State in the Beavers’ 2012 recruiting class out of Waipahu Samoana in Hawaii as an unrated recruit, according to 247Sports’ Composite Rating, before redshirting.

He appeared in 36 games over the previous three seasons with the Beavers, collecting two interceptions, 157 tackles (7.5 for loss) and two forced fumbles. He led Oregon State with 87 tackles while appearing in 12 games and starting in nine.

The Rebels began spring workouts Wednesday with senior Terry Caldwell and junior DeMarquis Gates as the leading candidates at the two linebacker positions. Senior Temario Strong, redshirt freshman Shawn Curtis and junior Ray Ray Smith are other options.

The 6-foot-2, 233-pound Mageo could compete with Gates and Curtis for playing time at middle linebacker.

The Rebels are having to replace both of their primary starters at linebacker from the 2015 season in middle linebacker C.J. Johnson and outside linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche, though Gates played well in replacing Nkemdiche toward the end of last season.

Mageo’s addition comes after three-star inside linebacker David Luafatasaga flipped his commitment from Ole Miss to Utah on national signing day, Feb. 3. The Arizona Western College sophomore had been the No. 2 JUCO player at his position.

The Rebels signed three-star inside linebacker Donta Evans and three-star weak-side defensive end Tariqious Tisdale, who is starting his college career at linebacker, in their 2016 recruiting class.

Contact Daniel Paulling at dpaulling@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @DanielPaulling on Twitter.