Meet the Ole Miss high school recruiting class, a Top 25 haul for Lane Kiffin

The Ole Miss Rebels signed a 2025 recruiting class that ranks in the Top 25 of the On3 Industry Ranking. For Lane Kiffin, it’s the continuation of his push to raise the recruiting prowess of the program.

Here’s a look at the signees for Kiffin.

WR Caleb Cunningham: The highest-ranked signee in the class flipped from Alabama last year to stay home to play for the Rebels. He was a huge priority for the staff and looked like he was going to be headed out of state, but comes into a wide receiver room now where he can play early. Cunningham ranks as the No. 39 overall prospect in the country and No. 7 wide receiver in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

OL Devin Harper: One of the crown jewels of Ole Miss’ class, the Shreveport (La.) Calvary Baptist product flipped from LSU and signed with the Rebels. He’s a Top 100 prospect and the fifth-ranked interior offensive lineman in the country. On3 is highest on him, ranking him as the No. 84 overall prospect and sixth-ranked interior offensive lineman.

CB Maison Dunn: Dunn is described as a “low-maintenance kid, quiet and easy to coach,” which for co-defensive coordinator Bryan Brown is a dream. The long, rangy cornerback is someone On3 is high on than other services, placing him as the No. 87 overall prospect and No. 12 cornerback in the country. Ole Miss hung over after a press from Alabama to get him across the finish line and get him to enroll early.

RB Shekai Mills-Knight: A Navy All-American, Ole Miss has high expectations for Mills-Knight, who had four carries for 23 yards in the game. Mills-Knight is originally from Montreal, Quebec. He chose the Rebels over Tennessee and others. He’s the No. 145 overall prospect in the country, ninth-ranked running back in America and the top-ranked prospect in Tennessee, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

DL Andrew Maddox: Defensive line coach Randall Joyner reeled in the Hattiesburg, Miss. native and got him on campus early as well. Maddox, who starred for Oak Grove High, is the 207th-ranked prospect in America and the 21st-best defensive lineman in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

S Ladarian Clardy: The Pensacola (Fla.) Escambia safety was named 4A Player of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. As a senior, the four-star prospect has made 43 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass break-ups, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Clardy committed to Ole Miss in September over notable offers from Florida State, LSU, Mississippi State and Washington. He is the No. 256 player in the On3 Industry Ranking. Clardy is the 18th-ranked safety in the country and Florida’s No. 38 player.

WR Winston Watkins: Ft. Myers (Fla.) Venice wide receiver Winston Watkins committed to Ole Miss during the early signing period. Ole Miss sold the four-star prospect on being the next Elijah Moore in Lane Kiffin‘s offense. Watkins is the No. 292 overall prospect in the country and No. 41 wide receiver in the nation.

S Cortez Thomas: A standout out of Lexington (Miss.) Holmes County, Thomas never wavered during the recruiting process and stuck with Ole Miss after committing in July. He held offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Mississippi State and others. Thomas is ranked as a four-star on the On3 Industry Ranking, ranking as the No. 321 overall prospect, No. 30 safety in the nation and No. 10 prospect in Mississippi.

LB Jarcoby Hopson: One of the top prospects in the state of Mississippi, Hopson enrolled early in Oxford to get a jump on competing in the linebacker room with Pete Golding. The four-star ranks as the No. 360 overall prospect in American and the No. 39 linebacker prospect. Hopson was named Mississippi’s 6A Athlete of the Year this year. As a senior, Hopson totaled 88 total tackles with an impressive 50 solo tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks. While he made a huge impact on offense in high school, he’s expected to make a big impact at linebacker in his career.

S Keon Young: The Rebels reeled in the Lakeland High (Fla.) standout arrives this summer in Oxford and is expected to bolster the safety room. He held offers from Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota and others. He ranks on On3 as a four-star, coming in as the No. 27 overall safety in the country and 45th-best prospect in Florida.

WR Dillon Alfred: Saraland (Ala.) three-star wide receiver Dillon Alfred committed to Ole Miss over Clemson back in August. The Gautier, Miss., prospect was previously committed to the Rebels in the spring, but decommitted at the end of June to ensure he was making the right decision. He’s the No. 82 overall wide receiver in America, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

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WR Samari Reed: The Monarch (Fla.) wide receiver committed to Ole Miss in July after compiling offers from Florida State, Penn State and others. Reed is the No. 85 wide receiver recruit in the country per the On3 Industry Ranking. Reed’s been one of the most productive wideouts in the state the past two seasons.

CB Dante Core: Joining Clardy as Florida Panhandle prospects signing with the Rebels, Core has the length you want in a cornerback in the SEC. Core flipped his commitment from Auburn to Ole Miss in November after watching the Rebels take down Georgia. He ranks on the On3 Industry Ranking as the No. 57 overall cornerback in America while slotting in as the No. 78 prospect in Florida.

EDGE Corey Adams: Coming out of New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr, Adams is the 50th-ranked EDGE in the country on On3, but he can play either spot on the edge. LSU, Oregon, TCU, USC and others offered him as well, but he committed to the Rebels in June and never wavered.

OL Connor Howes: On3 is high on Howes, ranking higher than any other service as the No. 26 offensive tackle. The Rebels flipped him from Arkansas late in the cycle after an official visit. Making the drive up from the Sunshine State, Howes brings a physical nature to the Ole Miss offensive line room for John Garrison. He’s the No. 612 overall prospect and 40th-ranked offensive tackle on the On3 Industry Ranking.

EDGE Talib Graham: Graham comes from Daphne (Ala.) High where he became one of the most sought after high school prospects. Auburn, Florida State and others also offered Graham a scholarship. The On3 Industry Ranking tabs him as the 59th-best edge rusher in America. Expect Ole Miss to give him opportunities off the edge, linebacker and maybe even at safety.

EDGE Corey Amos: Once again, Ole Miss went into Louisiana for a front-seven player. The Rebels landed the No. 71 edge in the country on the On3 Industry Ranking over offers from Alabama, Michigan, Miami and others.

OT Taren Hedrick: A massive offensive tackle out of the Community School of Naples (Fla.), Hedrick committed to the Rebels in early June. On the On3 Industry Ranking, he’s the 46th-best offensive tackle in the country. Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, Missouri and others dished out offers to him.

DB MJ Preston: Going into IMG Academy, the Rebels came away with Preston, who ranks as the 81st-best safety in the country on the On3 Industry Ranking. Florida, Michigan, Texas and others also offered Preston.

TE Hayden Bradley: Bradley and Maddox went through bowl practices with the Rebels. Ole Miss beat out Florida, Michigan, Penn State and South Carolina for the Buford, Ga. prospect. Bradley is the No. 59 tight end prospect, per the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. 

OT Kenneth Boston: Another Louisiana native, Boston prepped at Monroe (La.) River Oaks. His 6-8, 300-pound frame is a welcomed addition to the Rebels offensive line. He’s the 67th-rated offensive tackle in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s a bit of a sleeper, but that size can bolster the Ole Miss offensive line room for John Garrison.

LB Bryson Walters: A walk-on and early enrollee, Walters heads to Oxford from Fulton (Miss.) Itawamba Agricultural. On the On3 Industry Ranking, he’s the No. 121 overall linebacker in the country. He held Arkansas State and Southern Miss offers.

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