Top Prospects Leave Oxford Impressed as Rebels Build 2027 Recruiting Buzz

Four-star cornerback Gabriel Osborne Jr. left Oxford this week calling his unofficial visit with Pete Golding and the Ole Miss coaching staff "unbelievable," the latest in a series of 2027 prospects arriving in Lafayette County and departing with something to say.

Osborne, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound prospect from Oklahoma City's Mustang High School, ranks as the nation's No. 4 cornerback in the 2027 class. After spending time with Golding and defensive backs coach Bryan Brown, he wasted no time posting his reaction on social media. "Great unofficial visit to @OleMissFB yesterday," he wrote. "Thank you @CoachGolding and staff for an unbelievable visit." Programs including Oklahoma and Texas A&M are also pursuing Osborne, which makes the Rebels' strong impression particularly notable for a prospect with options from coast to coast.

Osborne was not alone in leaving Oxford with a favorable take. Four-star EDGE Mekai Brown, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound pass rusher from Greenwich, Connecticut, who ranks among the top-10 at his position nationally, visited Oxford in late March. He came away with specific praise for how Golding's staff communicated their vision. "They broke down how they would use me and where I fit," Brown said. "I like how they see me in their system." Brown, who drew interest from USC, Texas A&M, and Ohio State, added: "I like the energy there and how they run things. You can tell they're building something."

On the in-state front, the Rebels received a significant boost when Trae Collins, a four-star safety from Ridgeland, placed Ole Miss in his top four alongside Miami, Mississippi State, and Georgia Tech. Collins checks in as the No. 20-ranked safety in the 2027 class and is one of the most complete defensive backs in Mississippi, finishing his junior year with 65 tackles, 10 pass breakups, three tackles for loss and two interceptions on defense, while also contributing 233 receiving yards and three touchdowns on offense. Golding's staff has already locked in an official visit for Collins in June, a critical window to rebuild a relationship that dates back to a prior commitment Collins made before Lane Kiffin's departure opened his recruitment. Mississippi State has been aggressive in pursuit since Collins' pledge dissolved, and Miami carries national appeal, but Ole Miss holds the geographic and relational edge heading into the summer.

The steady stream of top-tier visitors reflects a deliberate approach from Golding's staff: get prospects to Oxford, put them in a room with the coaches, and let the program sell itself. With transfer portal activity also continuing to shape the 2026 roster, the Rebels are balancing immediate needs against what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched 2027 recruiting cycles in the program's recent history.