OXFORD – Despite an anything-but-normal last few days for No. 6 Ole Miss, the college football calendar stops for no one.

Wednesday marked the beginning of the early signing period for recruits in the class of 2026. The Rebels signed 17 players under newly-named head coach Pete Golding, who was elevated from defensive coordinator to permanent head coach Sunday following Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU. Despite a few previous commits following Kiffin to Baton Rouge, the Rebels currently have the No. 32 class in the nation, according to 247Sports Composite.

Below is a look at each of the 17 signees. All prospect rankings are from 247Sports Composite.

Defensive end Landon Barnes 

6-foot-4, 240 pounds/Duncanville High School, Texas/four-star

Logged 9 sacks and 21 tackles-for-loss in 2025.

Cornerback Dorian Barney

6-foot, 170 pounds/Carrollton High School, Georgia/four-star

Rated the No. 24 cornerback in the nation per 247Sports Composite.

Defensive end Jayden Curtis

6-foot-3, 260 pounds/St. Martin High School, Mississippi/three-star

Notched 20 tackles-for-loss in 2025.

Linebacker Anthony Davis

6-foot-1, 205 pounds/Grayson High School, Georgia/four-star

Record 212 tackles at Grayson, including 50 in 2025.

Offensive lineman Emanuel Tucker

6-foot-6, 290 pounds/New Albany High School, Mississippi/four-star

Helped New Albany to an 8-4 record in 2025.

Linebacker Ja’Michael Garrett

6-foot-2, 200 pounds/Central High School, Louisiana/four-star

Combined 36 tackles-for-loss in sophomore and junior seasons.

Wide receiver Kervin Johnson Jr.

6-foot-2, 200 pounds/Tioga High School, Louisiana/three-star

Ranked as the No. 87 receiver nationally in the 247Sports Composite.

Running back Ja’Michael Jones

5-foot-11, 200 pounds/Pike Road High School, Alabama/three-star

Ran for 4,233 yards and 53 touchdowns over four varsity seasons.

Cornerback Victory Lincoln Jr.

6-foot, 165 pounds/Duncanville High School, Texas/three-star

Had 10 pass breakups in 2025 and 26 combined over his final two seasons.

Offensive lineman Kane Mankins

6-foot-4, 245 pounds/Bishop Feehan High School, Massachusetts/Not ranked

Notched 150 combined tackles as a defensive end over junior and senior seasons. Son of former New England Patriots star Logan Mankins.

Safety Iverson McCoy

6-foot, 180 pounds/Tupelo High School, Mississippi/three-star

Made 75 tackles, broke up 14 passes and snagged five interceptions in 2025.

Safety Nassir “Nascar” McCoy

6-foot-1, 185 pounds/Buford High School, Georgia/three-star

Had 21 tackles as a senior.

Defensive lineman Carmelow Reed

6-foot-6, 260 pounds/Morgan Park High School, Illinois/three-star

Had nine sacks as a senior in 2025.

Safety Craig Tuitt

5-foot-10, 180 pounds/Oakland High School, Tennessee/four-star

Had 40 tackles and nine pass breakups on defense and ran for 938 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense as a senior.

Cornerback Braylen Williams

6-foot, 175 pounds/Tupelo High School, Mississippi/three-star

Threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 629 yards and 10 scores in seven games as the Golden Wave’s quarterback. Also had an interception on defense.

Quarterback Rees Wise

6-foot, 210 pounds/Westlake High School, Texas/three-star

Threw for 1,968 yards and 14 touchdowns and ran for an additional nine touchdowns as a senior.

Running back Damarius Yates

5-foot-10, 190 pounds/Kemper County High, Mississippi/four-star

Ran for 3,419 yards and 45 touchdowns over his final two seasons, including 2,080 yards and 30 scores in 2025.