Rebel Recruits’ Reactions: QB Justyn Martin, DL Jaheim Oatis, LB Stone Blanton, OT Jimothy Lewis react to the win over Tulane
OXFORD, Miss. — Saturday in Oxford was a wild, wet ride as the Rebels dominated Tulane, 61-21, in a downpour at Vaught-Hemingway. And although the rain caused a delay of almost two hours, it didn’t dampen the spirits of fans — and potential recruiting targets who are considering coming to the ‘Sip to play for head coach Lane Kiffin and company.
The Rebel Walk had a chance to catch up with some of Ole Miss’ top targets from 2022 — and even 2024 — to get their reactions from another big win!
Rebel Recruits’ Reactions
Jaheim Oatis – 2022 4-star DL (Columbia HS, MS): 247Sports Ranks: No.9 DL, No. 2 in MS (Alabama commit)
“It was a good game. Ole Miss did their thang!”
Justyn Martin – 2022 4-star QB (Inglewood HS,CA): 247Sports Ranks: No.21 QB, No.22 in Calif. (de-committed from Cal, following visit to Ole Miss)
“The offense was explosive and consistent the entire game. Matt had a great game by just playing within the system. The atmosphere was great and the team played disciplined even after a lightning delay.”
Stone Blanton – 2022 4-star LB (Madison Ridgeland Academy,MS): 247Sports Ranks: No.34 LB, No. 7 in MS)
“It was a great time me and my family really enjoyed our time here. The atmosphere was still great even with the weather.They’ve gotten so much better and the way they fly to the ball and our having fun with it really makes me like it.”
Jimothy Lewis – 2024 4-star OT (Madison Ridgeland Academy,MS): 247Sports Ranks: No. 1 OT , No. 1 in MS
“Overall, I had a really nice visit. I enjoyed the sit down talk with (Offensive line) coach (Jake) Thornton. I also enjoyed talking to the other coaches and staff. All the staff members were very welcoming and polite, and the facilities were nice as well. And don’t get me started about the game which was great. It was an amazing win for Ole Miss.”
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Lee Ann serves as the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She sees college football the way championship programs do—from inside the personnel room. Every evaluation, every roster move, every recruiting battle tells a bigger story about identity, culture, and how a program is built to win in December, not just July.
With more than 15 years covering the SEC and the national recruiting landscape, Herring-Olvedo has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most respected personnel-driven voices—blending film evaluation, roster construction, and long-term program vision through a true front-office lens. Her coverage of powerhouse brands like Ole Miss Rebels and Kentucky Wildcatshas consistently gone beyond headlines, focusing instead on the blueprint behind winning programs: development, fit, culture, and recruiting strategy.
That foundation was formed early at Brown University, where she worked in player personnel and recruiting while competing as a student-athlete. Inside those recruiting operations rooms, she learned how elite organizations are truly built—through relentless evaluation, relationship building, projection, and trust in the board. Those experiences shaped the way she studies the game today: part scout, part storyteller, part architect.
Her analysis and reporting have appeared across major platforms including ESPN, NFL coverage spaces, USA Today Sports, and Saturday Down South. She also brought her personnel-minded approach to the airwaves as an on-air analyst for the Wake Up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1, where she became known for combining film-room detail with a wider understanding of roster identity and program trajectory.
In 2025, covering the rise of Houston Cougars football under Willie Fritz reignited the part of the sport that first drew her into football—the culture, the edge, the belief that a roster can reshape an entire city. That inspiration led to the launch of Coogs 365 Sports, a platform built to cover Houston athletics through a true scouting and recruiting lens while connecting the emotion of the game to the heartbeat of H-Town.
Now, Herring-Olvedo returns to The Rebel Walk where with an even deeper perspective shaped by years inside recruiting circles, national SEC coverage, and hands-on evaluation experience. Her return brings a familiar voice back to Ole Miss coverage—but with an evolved lens rooted in roster architecture, player development, and the modern realities of building championship-caliber football in the NIL and portal era.
For Herring-Olvedo, recruiting has never been about stars beside a name. It is about identifying competitors, projecting growth, and building a locker room capable of sustaining success. Her philosophy mirrors the best front offices in football: stack traits, trust culture, and never stop building.
