Ole Miss Hires SMU Senior Director Scouting Alex Brown For Internal Role

The Ole Miss Rebels likely have a new general manager in the building with the hiring of SMU's Alex Brown

Ole Miss had found its next director of scouting.

At least that's what the title likely becomes down the line once the ink is dried.

The Rebels have hired SMU’s senior director of scouting and player personnel Alex Brown for a "high-ranking personnel and recruiting role," according to 247Sports. Brown will replace former general manager Austin Thomas, who recently accepted a personnel position at LSU.

Brown, one of the rising stars in the industry, spent three seasons at Rice, serving as the director of football recruiting as well as the Owls’ NFL liaison before moving to the Dallas Metroplex under Rhett Lashlee. Before that, he spent four seasons as part of the recruiting staff at Houston under former head coach Dana Holgorsen.

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Brown has spent most of his time in college athletics as either a liaison or a recruiting director. He now takes on a much more substantial role as the Rebels look to be long-term players in a new era of College Football.

While mostly spending his time in the Lone Star State, Brown helped the Mustangs secure their first AAC title in program history over Tulane with his knowledge of talent. He was influential in landing Preston Stone, who threw for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns en route to an 11-win season.

“At quarterback, these are the traits that we look for,” Brown said in an interview with 247Sports' SMU site. “These are the minimums because it’s not necessarily about like, ‘We want 6-4, 220 running a 4.5,’ right? Then you paint yourself into a corner.”

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The Rebels, who bring back standout quarterback Jaxson Dart, along with a promising supporting cast thanks to the additions of running back Logan Diggs (LSU) and Juice Wells (South Carolina), are coming off their first 11-win season in program history.

Ole Miss opens the 2024 regular season at home against FCS Furman on August 31.