Ole Miss Football Freshman Generating Significant Buzz Amid Hot Spring Camp Start

Duncanville (Tex.) four-star edge rusher Landon Barnes continues generating significant buzz this offseason after enrolling early with the Ole Miss Rebels in January.

Barnes, one of the top defenders in the 2026 Recruiting Cycle, signed with the Ole Miss program in December prior to making his way from the Lone Star State to Oxford in January.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder is now receiving praise from those within the Ole Miss staff where Barnes is poised to make an immediate impact after the program lost Princewill Umanmielen to the Transfer Portal.

But he'll have his work cut out for him after the Rebels added multiple free agents.

Ole Miss' Bryan Brown revealed that Barnes will be a "household name" as the four-star defensive weapon navigates his first offseason with the program as his trajectory generates buzz for the Rebels.

"Landon Barnes is going to be a household name." - Bryan Brown on the 4-star freshman DE
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) April 3, 2026

Barnes has the ideal frame of an SEC defensive end with his experience playing against the top prospects in the Lone Star State setting the table for what's to come as he continues his ascension this offseason.

The Landon Barnes File: Ole Miss Bio

• Unanimous four-star prospect by all major national recruiting services
• Ranked as high as No. 100 nationally by Rivals, among the top-35 players overall in Texas by all major services
• Consensus top-30 edge defender, ranked as high as No. 14 edge by Rivals
• Member of ESPN 300, coming in at No. 266
• In varsity career, tallied 82 total tackles, 33.5 TFL, 13.0 sacks, 31 QB hurries, six passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries
• As a senior in 2025, had 21.0 TFL and 9.0 sacks alongside 23 pressures
• Helped Duncanville reach the Texas 6A D-I state semifinals as a junior in 2024
• Coached by Reginald Samples
• Chose Ole Miss over offers from Texas, Ohio State and LSU among others

Barnes and the Ole Miss Rebels continue navigating Spring Camp in Oxford with all eyes on what's to come from the program in Pete Golding inaugural season at the helm of the program.

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