Ole Miss Football Battling North Carolina Tar Heels, Auburn for Elite Tight End

Decatur (Ill.) Mt. Zion four-star tight end JC Anderson remains a prospect on Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels' radar heading into a busy summer stretch.

Anderson, a Top-10 tight end in America, is coming off of an impressive junior campaign with a myriad of schools entering the mix.

The 6-foot-6, 230-pounder has the Ole Miss Rebels, North Carolina Tar Heels, Illinois Fighting Illini and Auburn Tigers, among several others, battling for his services this offseason.

Kiffin and Co. are set to receive an official visit from Anderson during the weekend of May 30-June 1 as his recruiting process ramps up.

North Carolina and Auburn are also on the official visit schedule for the summer as they turn up the heat for his services.

Blessed to be in this position. The remaining OV schedule! #AGTG 🙏🏼@OleMissFB @CoachJoeCox @AuburnFootball @B_Aigamaua @UNCFootball @CoachFKitchens pic.twitter.com/Di4IOLs5Xj
— JC Anderson (@jcanderson34) May 14, 2025

Ole Miss is in pursuit of multiple top tight ends in the 2026 Recruiting Cycle with both Anderson and five-star Mark Bowman at the top of their list.

Bowman, the No. 1 tight end in America, is currently on an official visit to Ole Miss as Kiffin and Co. role out the red carpet.

Meet the Visitor: Top-Ranked Tight End in America

Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei five-star tight end Mark Bowman has cemented his status as one of the top prospects in America after a dominant sophomore campaign in 2024.

Bowman, the No. 1 rated tight end in America, recently reclassified into the 2026 Recruiting Cycle and will skip junior campaign.

After making the move to reclassify, Bowman remains aa Top-25 prospect in America and the most sought-after tight end on the market.

He's heard from the top programs in America throughout his process with multiple powerhouse schools turning up the heat.

That includes Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels.

Kiffin and Co. were the first program to extend Bowman a scholarship as a freshman and have been on the prowl ever since.

Now, he's locked in an official visit with the Ole Miss Rebels, according to 247Sports.

Bowman arrived in Oxford on Friday to begin his visit with the program.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder remains one of the top targets on the program's "Big Board" with the Rebels battling the Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns and Ohio State, among others.

Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs appear to be the frontrunners as it currently stands with the Rebels and other schools looking to make noise this summer.

Bowman's official visit to Oxford this weekend will be the first official visit of his recruiting process.

What will the California native provide the school of his choice at the next level? On3 Sports National Scout Cody Bellaire chimed in.

“Mark Bowman was the most consistent tight end threat throughout the OT7 Championship. He was constantly moving the chains and made the occasional strong-handed dunk on top of a defender in the end zone that made the highlight reel as well.

"His frame, twitchy movements and route-running are impressive for a 2027 prospect. Bowman’s skill set allowed him to work himself open both underneath and up the seam. If Vance Spafford was covered, Bowman was the next man up. He stepped up his game in a big way this weekend and made his presence felt throughout the OT7 Championship.” – National Scout Cody Bellaire

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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and Ole Miss Rebels On SI: @OleMissOnSI for all coverage surrounding the Ole Miss program.