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Freeze met with players at Arkansas State this morning and told them he was leaving.
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OXFORD - Archie Manning has made his pitch and apparently Hugh Freeze likes what he heard.
Freeze is expected to be named the next head football coach at Ole Miss today in a formal press conference.
The Associated Press reported late Sunday night that Freeze had accepted the job.
Earlier in the day on Sunday, the Arkansas State coach told the Daily Journal that he "will decide tomorrow morning, after Jill and I pray about it."
A school spokesman said no official word on the status of the vacant coaching position would come Sunday night but stopped short of specifics on a possible announcement today.
The Rebels have been in a state of uncertainty at the position since their firing of Houston Nutt was made public on Nov. 7.
Around noon on Sunday, Freeze, a native of Senatobia, sounded like a man considering options when he told the Daily Journal he planned to meet with his Memphis-based agent, Jimmy Sexton, then with Arkansas State athletics director Dean Lee, then with his wife, Jill.
"Jill and I will pray about what is best for our family," he said.
Freeze, 42, was also quoted in a mid-day story in the Memphis Commercial Appeal on Sunday saying reports that he was set to be offered the Ole Miss job were "inaccurate at this time."
Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora were also both believed to be strong candidates for the committee co-chaired by Manning and Mike Glenn, an alum and FedEx vice president.
Freeze has limited college football coaching experience but has been very impressive in a handful of assignments.
After former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron and his staff were let go following the 2007 season, Freeze was 20-5 in two seasons as head coach at NAIA Lambuth.
Freeze took over as Arkansas State offensive coordinator in 2010. The Red Wolves averaged 30 points a game last season.
The 2010 team set nine school records on offense and finished in the national top 50 in passing offense, scoring offense, red zone offense and total offense.
Arkansas State defeated Troy 45-14 Saturday to cap a 10-2 season with sole possession of the Sun Belt Conference championship. The Red Wolves were 4-8 in 2010.
Freeze was considered a rising star in coaching when he served three years at Ole Miss. He was the operations assistant, then tight ends coach, then receivers coach.
Freeze is also know as the high school coach for former Ole Miss All-American Michael Oher. He won two state championships at Briarcrest Christian School.
parrish.alford@journalinc.com