Two Big-Time Ole Miss Targets Out of Mississippi to Watch in 2025

While 2024 is on the mind of every Ole Miss fan, that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to the 2025 recruiting trail.

Lane Kiffin and Co. are already off on the road recruiting the top players in the state. 

Ole Miss is entering 2024 with a type of offseason hype that hasn't been around the program in some time, and that doesn't just mean on the field. The Grove Collective, headed by Walker Jones, has proved its value as one of the top collectives in the country. Ole Miss is a winner and a fun program primed for future success. 

The 2025 cycle is once again a chance to prove the Rebels are the top program in the state, and there are some solid targets within the state of Mississippi worth remembering. Here’s a look at two of those prominent names as the Rebels host their Junior Day event this weekend.

Andrew Maddox on X

Andrew Maddox (Oak Grove H.S., Hattiesburg, Miss.)

Maddox is the younger brother of 2024 Ole Miss QB signee Anthony Maddox. Unlike his brother, Maddox is a 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman and is a 4-star recruit according to On3. He holds offers from other top programs such as Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, and Florida State. D-Line is one of those positions that you can't have enough of, and you know coach Randall Joyner would love to get his hands on another elite trench player. 

Akylin Dear (Quitman H.S., Quitman, Miss.)

Dear is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound running back out of South Mississippi. On3's rankings have Dear as a 4-star and the top running back in the state. He recently posted a picture on X of him, Kiffin, and Kelvin Bolden and commented, "The Mayor pulled up."

The mayor pulled up 🔵🔴@Lane_Kiffin @_kbolden
I appreciate that ‼️ pic.twitter.com/PFjFhg79Kw

— ᴀᴋʏʟɪɴ(AK)ᴅᴇᴀʀ⭐️ (@akylin3) January 25, 2024

Kiffin has found tons of success on the ground while in Oxford and has proven he can dial up plays to get his playmakers the ball in space. Kiffin has also proven he can recruit high-level runners and then pass them to Kelvin Bolden where they can truly develop into SEC-caliber backs. 

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Dear has offers from top programs such as Florida, Florida State, Georgia, and Oregon, and I also expect Jeff Lebby and the Mississippi State Bulldogs to be in the mix as well.