Four-star LB Mantrez Walker Talks about his Junior Day Visit to Ole Miss: ‘It was a family vibe…and I loved that’
OXFORD, Miss. — We all know Oxford is the buzz location for portal players, as the Rebels have the No. 1 overall portal class for 2024, but it has also become a clear destination for many of the nation’s elite high school players. Saturday was Junior Day at Ole Miss and the Rebels made quite an impression on many in the class of 2025, including four-star linebacker Mantrez Walker.
Walker, a Buford (Georgia) High School standout, is the No. 41 linebacker in the country and the No. 50 overall player in the talent-rich state of Georgia. We visited with him after his Junior Day visit and he offered his thoughts on Ole Miss.
“What stood out to me was (defensive coordinator) Coach (Pete) Golding and Coach (Wes) Neighbors’ knowledge for the game and the history of great coaching and developing players to go to the league. Also, just how hospitable they were to me and my family, I felt and was treated like their priority.”
Mantrez on his Junior Day visit to Ole Miss
The Rebels have already made some big strides on the recruiting trail in 2025, gaining a commitment Saturday evening from 2025 LB Corey Amos from Louisiana following Junior Day. The quality of players interested in Ole Miss is a testament to the ‘Golding Effect’ at work.
Sum To Prove. 🦹🏾 #BDA pic.twitter.com/XfpCwNhTYh
— Mantrez Walker (@MantrezWalker) November 28, 2023
As for Mantrez, the 6-foot, 215-pounder’s recruitment has been on fire as of late after quite an explosive junior campaign where he recorded 54 total tackles with four tackles for a loss.
2025 LB Mantrez Walker (@MantrezWalker) loves to drop big hits on his opponents!!! He plays smart, shows proper patience and then shows the burst/instincts to get to the ball carrier. Really good tackler overall while providing those big hits!!! He’s got plans to visit Miami 🙌 pic.twitter.com/kKpVoGvtHc
— North Fresh RNG (@NorthFreshCane) December 20, 2023
Walker already boasts quite the offer sheet, holding well over 30 offers including ones from: Ole Miss, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Missouri, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCF, Michigan, Arkansas, Boston College, Colorado, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Grambling, Illinois, Louisville, and others. There’s no doubt he will continue to rack up more.
Blessed To Be In This Position ! 🙏🏾
New Years Resolution Is To Make The Right Decision…. pic.twitter.com/eBpA8tCJda
— Mantrez Walker (@MantrezWalker) December 31, 2023
Even with his pick of plenty of high profile programs, Walker remains humble, perfecting his craft this off season in order to become even stronger heading into his senior season.
Back in December, he shared the Top 12 schools that have his attention, including Ole Miss.
GOD DID…🧎🏾♂️
WHERE’S HOME ¿ #Top12 @Coach_Davis22 @CoachApp35 pic.twitter.com/t7ju5gR6rb
— Mantrez Walker (@MantrezWalker) December 12, 2023
As you can see, there are many familiar rivals vying for Mantrez’ services. Fresh off trips to Miami and FSU, Walker had his choice of plenty of places he could have been this past weekend. But the Georgia native chose to make his way to the Sip to take in Junior Day with the Rebels.
Every prospect has a different experience. Walker shared his takeaway on the visit to Oxford for Junior Day.
“It was a family vibe. Everything was family based and I loved that!”
Mantrez Walker on Ole Miss
So where does this put the Rebels down the road for Walker and his recruitment?
“This visit puts the Rebs as one of my top schools, and they have a lot of good qualities that are going to be hard to beat. This visit just made my decision harder. They will be one of my top schools, though, for sure.”
Mantrez Walker on Ole Miss
What’s The Word…👀🦈 #hottytoddy pic.twitter.com/juG0zKdQWN
— Mantrez Walker (@MantrezWalker) February 4, 2024
It is apparent Miami has been at the forefront of this continued heated battle for Mantrez. Will the Hurricanes continue to create storms for the growing number of Power 5 suitors lining up for Walker? Of course they will, but they will have to fight off the very strong combo of Lane Kiffin and Pete Golding.
For the moment, it is evident that Mantrez Walker’s Junior Day visit made a strong impression on one of 2025’s top linebackers as we head into another critical point in Spring recruiting efforts.
Mantrez looks to be narrowing down the field here once again with a new top schools list coming out on February 11.
GOD DID ✞
TOP SCHOOLS DROPPING 2/11. pic.twitter.com/WUbM3ejSDQ— Mantrez Walker (@MantrezWalker) February 1, 2024
We look forward to bringing you more on Mantrez’s recruitment down the homestretch. The Rebels can catch him this off season creating chaos on the 7v7 circuit with HunchoElite.
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.
