Once Lane Kiffin made his exit, the Ole Miss fans expected the Rebels to take some time to bounce back. Pete Golding was all but thrown into the deep end with the Playoff and handling the recruiting class.
Yet, the Rebs managed to come out winning as the No. 2 ranked transfer portal class and the No. 22 ranked recruiting class.
Overall, 247 Sports ranked Ole Miss at No. 13, with 51 commits. Here is how Golding did in his first recruiting class.
Ole Miss 2026 recruiting class high school signings
- Edge Landon Barnes: 6'3.5", 235 | 4-star | Duncanville, Duncanville, TX
- CB Dorian Barney: 6'1", 180 | 4-star | Carrollton, Carrollton, Georgia
- WR Jase Matthews: 6'1.5", 193 | 4-star | Greene County, Leakesville, Mississippi
- RB Damarius Yates: 5'10", 190 | 4-star | Kemper County, DeKalb, Mississippi
- DL Carmelow Reed: | 4-star | Morgan Park, Chicago, Illinois
- S Craig Tutt: | 4-star | Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- DL Emanuel Tucker: | 4-star| New Albany, New Albany, Mississippi
- S Iverson McCoy: | 4-star | Tuepelo, Tuepelo, Mississippi
- WR Kervin Johnson: | 3-star | Tioga, Tioga, Lousiana
- RB Ja'Michael Jones: | 3-star | Pike Road, Montgomery, Alabama
- CB Victor Lincoln: | 3-star | Lancaster/Lancaster, Texas
- LB Anthony Davis Jr.: | 3-star | Grayson/Loganville, Georgia
- LB JaMichael Garrett: | 3-star | Central/Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- CB Nascar McCoy: | 3-star | Buford/ Buford, Georgia
- DL Jayden Curtis: | 3-star | St. Martin/ Ocean Springs, Mississippi
- IOL Jalan Chapman: | 3-star | Warrenn Easton/ New Orleans, Louisiana
- CB Brayen Williams: | 3-star | Tuepelo/ Tuepelo, Mississippi
- QB Rees Wise: | 3-star | Austin Westlake/ Austin, Texas
- WR Case Thomas: | 3-star | Madison-Ridgeland/ Madison, Mississippi
- DL Jamarion Ownes: | 3-star | Raleigh High/ Raleigh, Mississippi
- IOL Kane Mankins: | Attleboro, Massachusetts
Transfer portal class of 2026
- Jay Crawford – Auburn (CB)
- Keaton Thomas – Baylor (LB)
- Jonathan Maldonado – Nevada (EDGE)
- Sharif Denson – Florida (CB)
- Jeheim Oatis – Colorado (DT)
- Michai Boireau – Florida (DT)
- Carius Curne – LSU (OL)
- Edwin Joseph – Florida State (S)
- Brady Prieskorn – Michigan (TE)
- Deuce Knight – Auburn (QB)
- Cameron Miller – Kentucky (WR)
- JT Lindsey – LSU (RB)
- Joenel Aguero - Georgia (S)
- Troy Everett - Oklahoma (OL)
- Walker Howard - Louisiana-Lafayette (QB)
- Isaiah Spencer - Virginia Tech (WR)
- Darrell Gill Jr. - Syracuse (WR)
- Tah'j Butler - Georgia Tech (LB)
- Jordan Renaud - Alabama (DL)
- Blake Purchase - Oregon (EDGE)
- Johntay Cook - Syracuse (WR)
- Michael Smith - South Carolina (TE)
- Joshua Dye - Southern Utah (RB)
- Enoch Wangoy - Florida (OT)
- Makhi Frazier - Michigan State (RB)
- Tony Mitchell - Mississippi State (S)
- Luke Ferrelli - Cal (LB)
- Tommy Kinsler IV - Miami (OL)