The Grove Report

Ole Miss Football Enters Race for Prized LSU Tigers, USC Trojans Priority Target

Pete Golding and Co. extend an offer to the talented Louisiana native, enter the race after a strong junior campaign.
Zack Nagy|
Courtesy of Javon Vital's Instagram.

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Ole Miss RebelsLSU TigersUSC Trojans

Lake Charles (La.) Hamilton Christian Academy running back Javon Vital has ascended into one of the top prospects in the 2027 Recruiting Cycle with programs from coast-to-coast involved in his process.

Vital checks in as a Top-10 prospect in Louisiana with the hometown LSU Tigers making an early impact in his process after receiving an offer in 2025.

The 5-foot-8, 170-pounder logged over 3,000 all-purpose yards and 46 total touchdowns as a sophomore in 2024 with 1,500 yards and 25 scores coming on the ground.

Following the standout season as a sophomore, Vital's recruitment took off with a myriad of schools dishing out scholarships his way.

After carrying the momentum into his junior campaign last fall, Vital now enters a critical stretch in his recruitment process where he's since trimmed his list to three schools: LSU, Southern Cal, and Houston.

But it isn't stopping Ole Miss Rebels recruiting guru Frank Wilson from getting in on the action where the former LSU associate head coach/running backs coach has made his move after joining the staff in Oxford last month.

Wilson has developed a strong relationship with Vital where he made sure to get a face-to-face visit with the elite offensive weapon and his mother this week while taking a trip to the Bayou State.

During the meeting, Wilson extended an official offer to Vital with Ole Miss now entering the race for one of Louisiana's top players that can thrive as both a running back and wide receiver.

Ole Miss will have work to do as LSU and USC surge, but with an official offer in hand, all focus now turns towards getting Vital over to Oxford for a visit this offseason.

“I love the way they use people my size and my height,” Vital previously told Rivals about LSU. “They use their players in so many different ways — out of the backfield, in the slot, outside, as a punt returner.

"They’re gonna use me everywhere. It’s like my high school coach; whenever I can, I talk to them. We have a good relationship.”

The USC Trojans are also pushing for Vital as his process intensifies heading into the remainder of the offseason.

“We talk pretty often,” Vital said of USC running backs coach Anthony Jones. “I talk to him and the staff has kept in touch with me. That coaching staff will push you to be your best.”

Now, all eyes are on Pete Golding and the Ole Miss Rebels staff to intensify their pursuit for the Bayou State talent.

More Ole Miss News:

Ole Miss Football Gaining Confidence in Landing Top-10 Transfer Portal Wide Receiver

Ole Miss Football Adds Commitment From Prized Oklahoma Sooners Transfer To Haul

Kirk Herbstreit Believes Trinidad Chambliss Has Strong Chance To Get Waiver for 2026, Win Appeal

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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.

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Zack Nagy
ZACK NAGY

Zack Nagy is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Ole Miss Rebels On SI, a Sports Illustrated Publication. Nagy has covered Rebel Football, Baseball, Basketball and Recruiting, looking to keep readers updated on anything and everything involving Ole Miss athletics. Nagy has covered the Southeastern Conference for over half a decade after being born and raised in New Orleans (La.).

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