Will Lane Kiffin manage to lock in the commitment of the No. 4 DL in the state of Mississippi? Ole Miss Rebels compiled a top-20 recruiting class in 2025 while hauling in a transfer class that ranks No. 2 in the nation. But as impressive as that is, the Rebels aren’t slowing down. They’re in hot pursuit of a 2026 standout prospect who’s also high on Billy Napier‘s watchlist. But can Florida sweep away this Mississippi native right under Kiffin’s nose? The latest developments on this former LSU commit are heavily leaning towards Ole Miss, starting with his de-commitment from the Tigers.

Ole Miss actively pursued 4-star DL JaReylan McCoy right from the start of 2023. Offering him early, Lane Kiffin took the recruiting game a level up with this Tupelo HS standout who hails close to Oxford. LSU Tigers‘ Brian Kelly and his squad swooped in to steal his commitment earlier this January. But that didn’t deter the Rebels’ confidence. They continued their effort, locking in multiple visits that eventually led to his decommitment from LSU. With Ole Miss squarely back in the mix, Lane Kiffin won big as an official visit was set up. Per Chad Simmons on X on February 22, “Kiffin and that staff are working to keep the former LSU commit home.” After visiting Oxford twice in the past three weeks, McCoy is now set for an OV from June 6-8.

Rated as the nation’s No. 115 overall prospect and the No. 9 DL in his class, JaReylan McCoy’s stock continues to rise. The competition for his commitment is fierce but Lane Kiffin and his staff have been relentless in their push. Thanks to the visits and the relationship built by Coach Kiffin, DC Pete Golding, and DL coach Randall Joyner, the outlook is promising in this recruitment race.

“It was pretty good to me,” McCoy said of his visit to the Sip last month. “Coach Golding and Coach Joyner went over my film, had a nice tour around the campus, got to meet with Coach Kiffin, talked about the plans they have for this offseason with some of the new guys. It was a great experience. I haven’t been for a normal visit since freshman year, only game days so it was pretty good.” That OV better pull the right strings because Ole Miss is far from being alone in this commitment hunt. 

Can Billy Napier flip the script on Lane Kiffin?

JaReylan McCoy was a force in high school leading Tupelo to a perfect 14-0 record and a Class 7A state championship in 2024. His combination of power, speed, and intelligence makes him a candidate for early plays wherever he lands. For now, most signs are pointing towards Ole Miss but he’s heavily pursued by other SEC giants like Auburn, Texas A&M, and Florida. And it’s the Gators who are giving their all in this battle. 

Billy Napier remains in the mix for JaRaylen McCoy who values strong relationships. “Relationships and the people I am around is what I am looking for,” he said. “I want to be around great people. Building close relationships is key in my decision.” He’s expected to visit Gainesville to meet the coaching staff in the spring. Ole Miss is already building that connection. Can the Gators build the same kind of bond to retain the interest that’s warm right now?

An even bigger question is whether Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss’ persistence would pay off and keep the in-state standout home. As visits continue and competition mounts, the next few months will reveal if the Rebels’ efforts will keep this elite prospect in Oxford.