RW Recruiting: A Visit with JUCO All-American Offensive Lineman Mike Gatz
OXFORD, Miss. — “When an underdog wins, they win for everybody, because somebody’s gotta come through that door and break it open and make it possible.”
Singer/songwriter Saint Jhn
Those lyrics could refer to offensive lineman Mike Gatz as they certainly apply to the underdog from Illinois. While Gatz’ name might not yet ring a bell, look for him to come through that door and break it open!
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound center from Woodstock, Illinois received a preferred walk-on (PWO) offer last week from Ole Miss offensive line coach Jake Thornton.
After a conversation with @CoachThornton61, I’m extremely honored and blessed to receive an opportunity to continue my career at the UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI!! @MasonBehiel @OleMissFB @Dupage_Football @FBCoach_Rahn @JUCOFFrenzy pic.twitter.com/SwEDGlsJKQ
— Mike Gatz (@mgatz4475) January 24, 2022
Gatz, like many prospects looking for an opportunity to pursue their dreams, faced a difficult road as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, visits were shut down, and opportunities became more scarce.
However, Gatz wasn’t going to let that stop him from being discovered, so like many prospects in his class he decided to enroll in a junior college.
Juco creates battle-tested players. One of the best decisions I’ve made https://t.co/K54SV6iMWB
— Mike Gatz (@mgatz4475) January 24, 2022
Now, his talent and name are quickly on the rise.
Last season, Gatz helped his College of Dupage (Illinois) team finish as NJCAA National Champs, and he earned first-team All-America honors — as a true freshman — in the process.
Full season highlights including National Championship
Mike Gatz
6’3 290
4 for 3 full qualifier @Dupage_Football @FBCoach_Rahn @JUCOFFrenzy @JuCoFootballACE @JuCoFBN https://t.co/sbd9ZADjtx— Mike Gatz (@mgatz4475) December 16, 2021
He will have four years to play three full seasons at the college he picks.
Gatz currently holds PWO offers from Ole Miss, Marshall and St. Thomas (MN), but they are not the only ones who have eyes on this monster Midwestern center. Indiana, Baylor, Texas Tech, Wyoming and Oklahoma State are just a few of the Power 5 programs showing interest in Gatz.
We had a chance to catch up with Gatz shortly after his offer from the Rebels.
Rebel Walk: What led you to go the JUCO route?
Gatz: COVID took away a lot of opportunities for guys like me to be seen by schools. Camps were canceled and visits were canceled, so I went JUCO to earn the opportunities I thought I deserved.
Rebel Walk: There is a lot of talent just waiting to be found in JUCO programs. What would you say is your ‘x-factor’ that has attracted these offers, in particular from Ole Miss?
Gatz: My X factor is either my football IQ, being able to know what is supposed to happen on every play and dissect defensive game plans, or it is my toughness — being able to keep going when it hurts and push through the pain, and get the job done at all costs necessary.
Rebel Walk: Recruiting relationships don’t happen over night. What has meant most and stood out about how Ole Miss and Coach Thornton have recruited you?
Gatz: The thing that stood out most about Coach Thornton and Ole Miss is their upfront honesty, which can be hard to come by these days. Also, the fact that Coach Thornton was a walk-on so he understands what it entails.
Rebel Walk: You are on the radar for a lot of top programs now. How soon do you see yourself making a visit down to Oxford?
Gatz: Under the time constraints, I do not plan to visit but I plan to make my decision here very soon.
Rebel Walk: Recruiting has changed tremendously with COVID and now the transfer portal. What is your advice for other JUCO prospects looking to get seen by schools like Ole Miss?
Gatz: Trust the process and keep your nose on the grindstone. No matter the obstacles, these coaches will find talent. The number one thing is always bet on yourself.
Fit In The Sip
While Gatz has not made an official announcement as to where he will play next, here are just a few quick observations on why he is a ‘Fit In The ‘Sip’ for the Ole Miss offense.
- Great run blocking ability
- Solid on his footwork with speed to back it up
- Good hand placement
- Good Size
He really was born to be a center, though he could also play elsewhere on the line if needed, and he would give the Rebels much-needed depth.
Keep your eye on this underdog, folks! He’ll be busting through the door soon!
(Feature image graphic: Lee Ann Herring)
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Herring-Olvedo 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.
