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Elite, four-star QB Austin Simmons flips to Ole Miss from Florida; will move up from class of 2025 to 2023 and arrive soon in Oxford

Elite, four-star QB Austin Simmons flips to Ole Miss from Florida; will move up from class of 2025 to 2023 and arrive soon in Oxford

OXFORD, Miss. — On Saturday, four-star 2025 Florida commit Austin Simmons of Moore Haven, Florida flipped his commitment to Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss — and he will also reclassify to the 2023 class, jumping two grades. Simmons is also a baseball standout who will play for the Rebels.

First off, I would like to thank the Man above for giving me the strength and power to play these amazing sports. I would like to thank my father for always being there for me every step of the way, guiding me in the right direction ever since I started walking. He’s always stuck by my side through my ups and downs and none of this would be possible without him. I would also like to thank my mother and grandmother for always being supportive and giving me guidance throughout my journey. As to my mentor and coach, Oliver Bozeman, thank you for always guiding me in the right path. All of those long summer days in the hot sun helped me get to where I’m at today. I appreciate and love you, Coach!”

Austin Simmons on those who have helped him get to this point

Simmons went on to commit to the Rebels and reclassify to 2023:  

But with all that being said, I will be flipping my commitment and taking my talents to the University of Mississippi! Also, after long conversations with my family and mentors, I have decided to reclassify to the Class of 2023. I can’t wait to see what my future holds! To Coach Kiffin and the rest of the coaching staff, thank you for giving me this opportunity to bring a national championship to Oxford! Hey, Rebel Nation, I’m home!!”

Austin Simmons

Simmons spoke on the Coach Me Coach podcast Saturday, announcing his decision.

“Basically, (I) just did accelerated learning,” Simmons told the Coach Me Coach Podcast about how he is able to advance two classifications. “I started that when I was a freshman and just started taking college courses in high school.”

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Simmons had been ranked the No. 4 quarterback in the 2025 cycle, but he will be receiving new ratings as a Class of 2023 recruit. Simmons, a 17-year old with a 5.35 GPA, graduated from high school as a freshman. 

During his sophomore season at Moore Haven High School, Simmons passed for 3,161 yards and 24 touchdowns, while throwing only 9 interceptions. 

As a baseball player at True North Classical Academy in Florida, Simmons hit .365 and drove in 16 runs. 

But, wait, there’s more to this seemingly-endless well of talent possessed by Simmons. He’s also a pitcher who was 4-1 last season with a 2.65 ERA. 

Simmons explained on the Coach Me Coach Podcast that his plans are to play baseball for head coach Mike Bianco and the Rebels, pitching and playing outfield.

Simmons joins a Rebel football class, including transfers, that is currently ranked No. 19 nationally — and, notably, did not have a QB commit. 

The Ole Miss quarterback room was already one of the most talented in the nation with Jaxson Dart returning, joined by Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders and transfer Walker Howard from LSU.

If his Twitter is any indication, Coach Kiffin is plenty pumped to add Simmons to the crew. 

Hotty Toddy!

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.

About The Author

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.

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