Ole Miss Football received a commitment from one of the top prospects out of Mississippi. Four-star running back Akylin Dear announced on "X" that he was committing to the Rebels.
Head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff have heavily recruited Akylin Dear, and the work has paid off. Dear, the No.1 ranked running back in the 2025 class per 247Sports, committed to Ole Miss on March 30.
BREAKING: 247Sports No. 1 RB Akylin Dear commits to #OleMiss. Running backs coach Kevin Smith led the charge in recruiting Dear who loves the offense in Oxford.
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) March 30, 2024
"How they use their running backs to catch the ball and run a lot," Dear said. "Coach Kevin Smith, man he knows a lot… pic.twitter.com/tOVGiAFP56
This commitment is a significant milestone for the Rebels, with Kiffin's focus on recruiting top talent from within the state. Mississippi is experiencing a surge in high school football talent, and Dear's commitment is a testament to the team's growing reputation.
Akylin Dear is Happy to Be Staying in Mississippi with Ole Miss
Dear expressed his admiration for Lane Kiffin and running backs coach Kevin Smith, highlighting their effective use of running backs in both the passing and running game. "They use their running backs to catch the ball and run a lot," Dear said. "Coach Kevin Smith, man, he knows a lot."
"“It was a difficult [decision] because there was a lot of places to go play at,” Dear said. “But I’m from Mississippi, ya know? It’s great to be staying home. Ain’t anything better than the ‘Sip.”"Akylin Dear
The commitment comes two days after his March 28 visit to Oxford. On3 asked Dear when Ole Miss became the team to beat. “Since during football season. I told them on this trip. It’s about how they use their running backs — in the passing game, in the running game and how they take care of them.”
Ole Miss Look to Follow Up Akylin Dear Commitment With More From Mississippi
Dear's commitment makes him the first 2025 recruit for Ole Miss from Mississippi. Lane Kiffin is working to grab more, with the Rebels leading the race on a few prospects.
Ole Miss looks to be making the early running for linebacker Jarcoby Hopson and defensive lineman Andrew Maddox, both four-star recruits. Maddox is the younger brother of quarterback Anthony, who committed to the rebels from the 2024 class.
The top recruit in Mississippi is wide receiver Caleb Cunningham. Ole Miss is fighting it out with rival Mississippi State for his commitment.