Former University of Tennessee football signee and Harding Academy standout Todd Cox said Thursday he has committed to Ole Miss and hopes to enroll in classes at the school this month.

Cox, ranked the No. 15 athlete prospect in the nation in the Class of 2005 by Rivals.com, said Rebels assistant athletic director for external affairs Hugh Freeze told Cox's mother Thursday that he is close to being cleared academically by the NCAA Clearinghouse and may enroll at the school this month.

"Coach Freeze called today and told my mom I'm pretty much cleared. I can start school this January, but I won't be on scholarship until next fall," said Cox, a 6-1, 210-pound linebacker who after signing with Tennessee last February spent the fall at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College after being declared ineligible to play for the Vols.

Cox, who picked UT last spring over Auburn, Florida, Miami (Fla.) and Southern California, contended that Harding Academy made a mistake with his transcript and that he should've been eligible to play at Tennessee all along.