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Ole Miss Beats Out Mississippi State for Coveted Local Prospect

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi Dombro | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 3:25 PM ET

The Ole Miss football program has been steadily rebuilding this offseason after a mass exodus following the 2024 campaign. Last year, the Rebels won 10 games for the third time in four seasons, but most of the starters have moved on to the NFL.

Head coach Lane Kiffin has been excellent recruiting in the transfer portal during his five-year stint with the Rebels, but only recently has he seen his success grow on the high school recruiting trail.

In the class of 2026, Ole Miss had just nine commits heading into this week. However, four-star edge rusher Landon Barnes and four-star tight end JC Anderson both verbally committed to the Rebels over the last few days.

On Thursday, positive news kept pouring in for the Rebels as it pertained to the 2026 class. Three-star defensive back Iverson McCoy also announced his commitment to Ole Miss, marking the third commitment in the last four days.

McCoy is a Tupelo, Mississippi, native who chose Ole Miss over 14 other college offers. He was deciding between the Rebels and bitter rival Mississippi State, but he spurned the Bulldogs and pledged his allegiance to Kiffin and Ole Miss.

Fellow three-star cornerback and Tupelo High School attendee Braylen Williams is also committed to the Rebels. This is proof that Ole Miss is continuing to carve out their space in the Mississippi high school recruiting scene.

The Rebels' 2026 class of commits now stands at 12 players, which includes four four-star athletes and three local Mississippi products.

Ole Miss opens their season at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on August 30 against the Georgia State Panthers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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