SEC Rival Building Momentum for Elite Ole Miss Football, Oklahoma Sooners Target

Pete Golding and Co. will look to fend off multiple programs for the elite defender, in-state foe set to host the Top-50 recruit for a visit.

Courtesy of Ben'Jarvius Shumaker on X.

Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County four-star defensive lineman Ben'Jarvius Shumaker remains a priority target for Pete Golding and the Ole Miss Rebels this offseason as his recruitment process takes off.

Shumaker checks in as a Top-50 prospect in the 2027 Recruiting Cycle and the No. 4 rated defensive lineman in America with programs from coast-to-coast battling for his commitment.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder out of the Magnolua State has reeled in offers from the likes of the Ole Miss Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Oklahoma Sooners, Tennessee Volunteers, and Texas A&M Aggies as his meteoric rise continues.

The Choctaw County (Miss.) product has a former teammate of his already on campus in former five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham where the relationship will be critical in the program's recruiting approach.

But the real connection to keep tabs on for Shumaker is defensive line coach Randall Joyner after the critical assistant coach made the decision to remain in Oxford for the 2026 season.

Courtesy of Ben'Jarvius Shumaker on X.

Joyner and Shumaker have developed strong rapport with the entire Ole Miss assistant coaching pool keeping up with the consensus Top-50 prospect in America.

But Shumaker will be one the Rebels are battling for until the end with the Mississippi State Bulldogs also in contention with the SEC rival set to host him for a visit, according to 247Sports.

Mississippi State expected to host 247Sports four-star Ben'Jarvius Shumaker (VIP) https://t.co/lJu5cNs64z

— Bulldawgs247 (@Bulldawgs247) February 7, 2026

Ole Miss is coming off of a pivotal January stretch where Golding and Co. checked in with a myriad of priority prospects on the recruiting trail for in-person visits - specifically across Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana.

The Visit to Know: IOL Albert Simien

Lake Charles (La.) Sam Houston five-star offensive lineman Albert Simien remains a hot commodity on the recruiting trail this offseason as programs from coast-to-coast enter the race for his services.

Simien, the No. 1 rated interior offensive lineman in the 2027 Recruiting Cycle, has seen a meteoric rise as of late with contenders emerging in his process as he prepares for a pivotal offseason.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound junior has earned offers from the likes of the Ole Miss Rebels, LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Florida Gators, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Texas A&M Aggies, among several others, across his prep career.

Courtesy of Albert Simien on X.

The Bayou State star has the Ole Miss Rebels in pursuit as recruiting guru Frank Wilson - who joined the program in December following a four-year stint at LSU - intensifies his push for the elite offensive lineman.

Wilson made his way to Louisiana last week for an in-home visit with Simien and his family as he evaluates his options as schools travel down to The Boot in pursuit of the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in America.

More Ole Miss News:

Ole Miss Football Pulls Off Historic Recruiting Feat After Landing No. 2 Portal Class

Ole Miss Football Recruiting Notebook: Three Targets Pete Golding Must Land in Year 1

'Growing Optimism' That Ole Miss Football QB Trinidad Chambliss Will Play in 2026

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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.