Ole Miss one of several teams leading the way for the No.2 ranked tight end in the 2026 class

Ole Miss football continues to impress when it comes to recruiting high school players, securing another top-20 class in 2025.

Focus shifts to the 2026 class, with the Rebels having an early commitment from three-star edge Zion Legree. They are in the running for some of the top players in the class, including the No.2 tight end, Kaiden Prothro.

Prothro spoke to Chad Simmons at On3 about the schools leading at this early stage of recruitment. Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, and Texas are all in the mix, a selection of some of the top schools in the nation.

Georgia leads the way for home state talent

Kaiden Prothro is a Georgia native, and with the Bulldogs a hotbed for tight-end talent that heads to the NFL, it's no surprise that they are the clubhouse leaders for his commitment.

Protho just recorded a three-peat with Bowdon High School, with the tight end having 92 receiving yards for one touchdown. Due to his size, the 6-foot-6, 210-pound pass catcher even had a stint at cornerback during the game.

On3 Industry Rankings rank Prothro as the No.2 tight end, the No.3 player in Georgia, and the No. 41 player in the nation.

The Rebels are not known for recruiting top-ranked tight ends. However, they have done an excellent job of finding talent via the transfer portal, the latest of which is Caleb Odom, a former four-star recruit who transferred in from Alabama.

It would be a great achievement for the Rebels if they managed to win the battle with some of the best teams in the nation. Winning key recruiting battles like this is the next step for Lane Kiffin, who has already made great strides in the last five years.