After losing a four-star linebacker commit last month, Ole Miss & Lane Kiffin have once again landed a blue chip linebacker in the 2026 class
The Rebels have once again landed a four-star commitment from a top linebacker prospect.
Central (La.) linebacker JaMichael Garrett was at one time committed to Auburn. But, after reopening his recruitment, there was one program who prioritized him quickly. And now the four-star prospect is committed to that very program.
Ole Miss landed the No. 161 prospect in the 2026 class Monday over notable offers from Clemson, LSU, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Southern Cal. He is the 8th-ranked linebacker in the country and the No. 8 prospect from the state of Louisiana.
Garrett was recently in Oxford for the Rebels’ 41-35 win over Arkansas – hanging out with several Ole Miss commits. One in particular who was key in this commitment was fellow linebacker commit and four-star recruit Anthony Davis.
Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett spoke with JaMichael Garrett earlier this month about how Ole Miss set itself apart.
“Ole Miss, they do a good job at building relationships and making you feel like a priority. Obviously, they just lost a linebacker in their class. Guy that flipped over seven to eight times, so just knowing that they want loyalty and they have stability,” Garrett said. “Two coaches that coached under Nick Saban, and just knowing that Nick Saban, one of the greatest coaches to coach in college football, wanted them guys a part of the staff.
“Then they dispersed out to start their own program, which has been very successful. Another blessing being able to be recruited by Ole Miss,” Garrett said. “My official visit down there went great, I was able to bond with a lot of current linebackers on the team and just learn the ways of Ole Miss. It really pulled me closer to them.”
Ole Miss has now replaced the loss of four-star linebacker Izayiah Williams.
The four-star prospect has made headlines since November of 2023 when he went on a cross-country tour of commitments, decommitments, and flips. Now, he says he is committed (again) to the Florida State Seminoles and this time it’s for good.
“I’m in with Florida State,” Williams told Rivals’ John Garcia, Jr. “They kept a consistent relationship with me, even when I decommitted from there. It meant a lot, it really meant a lot.
But, if you’re an Ole Miss fan, rest easy. Garrett is an athletic specimen like Williams and fits the mold of defensive prospect defensive coordinator Pete Golding likes. 247Sports’ scouting analyst Gabe Brooks is a big fan of the Gulf Shores, Ala., native.
“Classic run-and-hit off-ball linebacker who consistently finds his way to the ball. Adequate physical traits for a modern linebacker role. May fit a 4-3 MLB role best. Plays with some physicality. Can show up at the ball with more pop than size on paper might suggest. Capable of opening up when chasing down plays. Averaged 10 tackles per game as a junior, though TFL and sacks dropped significantly vs. sophomore year. Displays some natural traffic-sifting instincts and flows the ball. Provides value as a blitz option. Not overly framey, but should possess some bulking capacity given length relative to height. Verified data in regards to physical tools and athletic markers is limited, especially compared to many LB peers. Projects to the P4 level as a higher-floor linebacker who tackles consistently and plays with some edge. Could become a quality starter as the back-seven backbone for a team.” – 247Sports’ scouting analyst Gabe Brooks
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JaMichael Garrett has been a tackling machine the last two seasons.
As a sophomore, the 6-foot-1, 205 pound prospect made 87 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and an interception returned for a touchdown. In 2024, Garrett had 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
In 2023, Garrett was a huge reason why the Dolphins went 15-0 and won the Alabama Class 5A title over Ramsay, 21-14. It was the program’s first state title.
