No. 1 Lineman in Mississippi, Priority Ole Miss Football Target Commits to SEC Rival

Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels had their sights set on New Albany (Miss.) four-star offensive tackle Emanuel Tucker in the 2026 Recruiting Cycle down the stretch of his process.

Tucker, the No. 1 rated offensive tackle in the Magnolia State, recently reopened his recruitment after backing off of a pledge to the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

But the 6-foot-7, 285-pounder wasted no time in his process after hitting the recruiting trail with force in June.

Tucker took official visits to both the Ole Miss Rebels and LSU Tigers where he quickly narrowed his focus on the pair of Southeastern Conference schools.

The Top-10 overall prospect in Mississippi, and Top-15 offensive tackle in America, had Kiffin's program firmly in the mix down the stretch in his process.

“It was great,” Tucker told On3 Sports about his visit to Ole Miss. “My favorite thing was how they ran their offense. It’s something I’m really interested in and would love to be a part of.”

But Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers continue chipping away at Tucker during his process with the program ultimately getting the talented prospect down to Baton Rouge for an official visit last weekend.

Once in the Bayou State, Tucker felt at home with position coach Brad Davis rolling out the red carpet for his coveted target.

Now, Tucker has gone public with a commitment decision. The No. 1 offensive lineman in Mississippi has pledged to the LSU Tigers.