Defensive Tackle Patrick Tackie on his visit to Oxford: ‘The culture of football at Ole Miss stood out to me the most’
OXFORD, Miss. — As the Grateful Dead lyrics say, “Once in a while, you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.” This is certainly true for Hinds Community College standout Patrick Tackie who traveled all the way from Harlem, New York to Raymond, Mississippi, unleashing his potential in the process.
Tackie’s dream of playing at the next level was evident when the former two-way lineman out of A. Phillip Randolph Campus High School in the heart of Harlem decided to pack his bags and head down south in hopes of creating an opportunity for himself to play the game he loves. And, boy, has he done that.
Freshman Defensive Tackle @HindsCC_FB I flew in from New York in to Mississippi with a strong desire,passion,love and ambition to play high level fast paced football and I thank my coaches for this opportunity. @TheBGH2023 @oc7888 https://t.co/l9Z6RJ4OO7
— Patrick Tackie (@PatrickTackie56) November 21, 2023
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound sophomore has found his footing in the trenches at Hinds, emerging as one of their top defensive tackles. He has caught the eyes of plenty of schools, including Ole Miss. And if anyone can spot a diamond in the rough its the Rebels.
In looking at Tackie, there are some areas that stand out about his skillset. He is a gap-filler with a big, strong frame. Keep in mind, Tackie hasn’t even reached his full-frame size yet, but he already possesses elite size. He has good lateral movement and the ability to bull rush with athleticism. He has a good first step and a high motor.
This past weekend, Tackie was among the Rebel prospects who took in the Rebels’ big win over Georgia Southern. We caught up with the rising young lineman to get his thoughts on the visit and more.
Had a great time in Oxford this weekend #HOTTYTODDY 🔴🔵 @OleMissFB pic.twitter.com/ToJmOtAtQV
— Patrick Tackie (@PatrickTackie56) September 22, 2024
A visit with Patrick Tackie
On what stood out the most about the Rebels’ win over GSU:
“The offense, Lane kiffin is a genius, (Jaxson) Dart is a maestro. The defensive line was great. Ole Miss’ facilities were top tier. It inspired me and re-lit a flame that was diminishing from JUCO. It was an all-around great visit.”
On what he enjoyed most about the visit to Oxford:
“The atmosphere, beautiful scenery. The love of football is felt all around.”
On what has stood out the most about the recruitment and the program:
“The culture of football at Ole Miss stood out to me the most. The fans, the staff, the players all come together for 60 mins. to produce the best showcase every Saturday night.”
On what he could bring to the Rebels:
“I would bring great leadership, heart, passion, respect, and being a man of God.”
You never know where the next trench King may come from, but it could be Harlem!
Stay tuned to The Rebel Walk as we look forward to sharing more about unique and talented prospects like Patrick Tackie.
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.
