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Ole Miss stays hot on recruiting trail, beating out SEC rivals for elite LB

ByDrew Moore|
Nov 23, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (left) and Mississippi Rebels defensive coordinator Pete Golding (right) watch during the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (left) and Mississippi Rebels defensive coordinator Pete Golding (right) watch during the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Ole Miss and head coach Lane Kiffin and defensive coordinator Pete Golding have landed another significant defensive recruit. Golding has been on a tear and has landed back-to-back four-stars out of the Peach State. Last week, the rebels secured a verbal commitment from four-star linebacker Anthony Davis Jr., a standout from Grayson High School (Loganville, Ga.) in the 2026 class.

Lane Kiffin adds 4-star Anthony Davis Jr. to Rebels 2026 recruiting class

Davis, ranked among the top 20 linebackers nationally by multiple outlets, chose the Rebels over a list of heavyweight programs that included Alabama, Michigan, Auburn, and Florida. He made his decision public following an official visit to Oxford in early June—a trip that ultimately tipped the scales in Ole Miss’s favor.

“Ole Miss has recruited me as hard as anyone lately,” Davis said at his signing ceremony, “I like their staff a lot, and their defensive stats have been through the roof. The connections I have built are real.”

At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Davis brings a unique blend of speed, physicality, and football IQ to the second level. During his junior season at Grayson, he posted 105 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, three sacks, and five pass breakups, helping lead the Rams to a 14–1 record and a deep state playoff run. His range and ability to cover in space make him an ideal fit in defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s aggressive, blitz-heavy system.

Davis said, "Coach Golding’s been my guy... Talking football knowledge from him has been great. He’s one of the greats to do it. It was really great to sit down in meetings and him go over football and talk football."

With Davis on board, Ole Miss’s 2026 class continues its ascent in the national rankings. He joins a growing list of blue-chip defensive prospects—including DB Craig Tutt, EDGE Landon Barnes, and a top 5 linebacker in the nation, Izayia Williams —giving the Rebels a strong foundation for the future in the SEC.

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