Even though the 2026 season hasn’t even started, recruiting for next off-season is in full swing. After all, recruiting is a full-time job in college athletics these days. And for the Ole Miss Rebels, defensive-minded head coach Pete Golding has already seen numerous verbal commitments for next year’s signing day. While it obviously isn’t made official until paperwork is signed, receiving these verbal commitments can be a good gauge of where a recruit is leaning. And the 2027 Ole Miss recruiting class, having success with high schoolers, has to be a good feeling, especially early in Golding’s tenure in Oxford.
For the Rebels, they’ve grown accustomed to being major players in the transfer portal. Under Lane Kiffin, they were consistently one of the best programs in the country in terms of getting players through the portal. Guys like Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy were both portal additions last season. Even this year, in Golding’s first year as head coach, they finished ranked in the top five of just about every transfer portal ranking.
However, where they’ve struggled has been with high school recruits. Consistently trying to live through the portal is a dangerous game. Eventually, you do have to put together solid high school classes to add to the annual portal haul. And at times, Kiffin struggled with that. Now, under Golding, it looks as if Ole Miss is doing a better job at targeting high school recruits.
So who are some of the names that have verbally committed to the Rebels for 2027, and what could the rest of the class end up looking like?
2027 Ole Miss Recruiting Class
Taelyn Mayo
Four-star cornerback Taelyn Mayo made news late last week when he announced his commitment to Ole Miss. A native of Lewisville, Texas, he’s known as being one of the best cornerbacks in the state, largely because of his frame. Listed at 6’3 and weighing roughly 185 pounds, he has a bigger body than many would sometimes think of when it comes to the corner position. And while he doesn’t necessarily have elite speed for the position, he does have good instincts and reaction time on the outside, and uses his long frame to make plays even when he may be slightly out of position.
During his junior year at Lewisville High School, he recorded 29 tackles, to go along with three interceptions and two forced fumbles. This ability to create turnovers, not only through the air but also on the ground, certainly doesn’t go unnoticed.
Due to his size, he’s also known as a big hitter at the cornerback position. Given the fact that he’s likely to continue to put on weight throughout his senior year as he gets older, he’s going to have the chance to become a sure tackler on the outside as well. If he can make the sure tackles, along with having the size to make big hits, he can be a major problem for opposing receivers.
Ben’Jarvius Shumaker
Ben’Jarvius Shumaker is currently the highest-rated commit for the Rebels for the 2027 class. The four-star defensive lineman is a native of Ackerman, Mississippi, and is currently the third-rated prospect in the state. At 6’3, 285 pounds, he has a frame that is typical for his position, and more importantly, he has the power to shed blocks on the inside. While he doesn’t necessarily have elite speed at the position, he does have solid instincts about where the ball is going to be, and is quick enough to get where he’s needed.
If there is one concern, it would be the competition he faces in high school. Playing at 4A Choctaw Central High School, he isn’t in a tremendously deep division in the state of Mississippi. So while the competition he faces in high school could be a slight concern, he’s making the most of his playing time while there. As a junior in 2026, he recorded 113 tackles, including 24 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble and recovered two others.
If he can put on a bit more weight throughout his senior year, he has the tools and size to be a legitimate part of Ole Miss’s interior defensive line rotation as a freshman in 2027.
Other Names to Watch in the 2027 Ole Miss Recruiting Class
Coderro McDaniel
Another Mississippi native, Coderro McDaniel, is another commit for the Rebels 2027 class. The three-star offensive lineman is listed at 6’5, 325 pounds, and has seen time at just about every position on the offensive line. He’s also taken snaps on the defensive side of the ball, though he projects out to be an offensive lineman at the next level.
For McDaniel, the key is his strength. His footwork will need to improve a bit as he continues to progress, but his strength has been evident since he started high school. As a freshman and sophomore at Brookhaven High School, he won the state title in shot put for the track and field team. Knowing the strength is there, the biggest focus for him now should be working on his footwork, especially in pass protection.
Jamarkus Pittman
Jamarkus Pittman is a defensive lineman prospect for Golding and the Rebels, and a native of Memphis. At 6′-3″, 320 pounds, size certainly isn’t a question for Pittman. The three-star lineman will play on the interior, and there’s really no question about it. The question is going to be about whether he has the power to see consistent snaps in the SEC.
He’s put up good numbers throughout his high school career, but it comes against extremely questionable competition. A student at Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, a public charter school, he’s not going up against great competition week in and week out. However, despite that, he is still ranked as the 13th-best prospect in the state of Tennessee for the 2027 class.
While the size isn’t an issue, footwork and power may be. At the high school level, he’s dominating largely because of his massive frame. If he wants to have similar success at the next level, he’s going to have to continue to improve on a variety of different aspects of his game.
Main Image: Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
