Tupelo Native Shamaar Darden Signs National Letter of Intent With Ole Miss

The Ole Miss Rebels added one of the more underrated Mississippi recruits on early signing day.

OXFORD, Miss. -- Pete Golding has landed another piece for his defense, as 2024 three-star safety Shamaar Darden signed his national letter of intent with the Ole Miss Rebels on Wednesday. The senior out of Tupelo (Miss.) High School committed to the Rebels in June, and has stayed true to his pledge, as Ole Miss is one of the few power schools that pursued Darden.

The Rebels fended off offers from the Jacksonville State Jack Gamecocks, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, UTSA Roadrunners, Arkansas State Red Wolves, and Texas State Bobcats on the recruiting trail. 

In three seasons of stats available on Darden, he has accumulated 87 total tackles and 13 pass breakups while with the Tupelo Golden Wave, including 49 solo tackles as a junior last season.

Golding and Ole Miss safeties coach Wes Neighbors are very high on the underrated prospect, and for good reason. Take a look at this crushing blow Darden delivered a season ago. Darden attended Ole Miss’ Junior Day back in January and was offered by Neighbors that day.

According to On3’s database, Darden is rated as the No. 134 safety and the No. 33 player in the state of Mississippi in the talented 2024 recruitment cycle.

Darden is officially a part of an Ole Miss recruitment class that ranks No. 19 in the nation, according to On3.