On the Offer: Ole Miss offers 2026 4-star defensive lineman Jamarion Carlton
OXFORD, Miss. — Just off I-35, nestled in Central Texas, one finds the old railroad town of Temple. Here lately, I have driven past it quite frequently on the recruiting trail to Dallas and Houston. However, thanks to Jamarion Carlton, a class of 2026 4-star defensive lineman who has received an offer from Ole Miss, we won’t just be passing by Temple anymore.
The defensive front has been a priority for the Rebels on the recruiting trail over the past few cycles, and we can clearly see evidence of this already in the opening weeks of the season.
The 6-foot-5, 238-pound junior is ranked as the No. 20 overall athlete in the nation for 2026, the No. 2 defensive lineman in the nation, and the No. 3 overall athlete to come out of the Lone Star state.
#AGTG Couple of early season highlights pic.twitter.com/E9vKDf2rXd
— Jamarion Carlton (@JamarionC26) September 16, 2024
Carlton holds over 21 offers to date. In addition to one from the Rebels, he has offers from: Texas, A&M, TCU, Texas Tech, USC, Vanderbilt, Arizona State, Baylor, Houston, Kansas State, LSU, Nebraska, North Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, SMU, and Syracuse, among others.
Look for that list to continue to grow, as it doesn’t take long to recognize his exceptional talent. As a sophomore in 2023, he recorded 29 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 7 quarterback hurries in 8 games.
Highlights so far this season pic.twitter.com/jR7iQOYn1g
— Jamarion Carlton (@JamarionC26) September 28, 2022
Carlton is super twitchy with a knack for making big plays. He has a lean frame, but don’t let that fool you. He possesses strength at the point of attack and his speed-to-power capabilities are impressive. His athletic roots are not just in football, but also in basketball and track and field, and that has helped him with his physicality.
#AGTG A couple of basketball highlights I have so far @TEMPLEBBALL @_Recruit_Temple pic.twitter.com/qdqTJHyo1h
— Jamarion Carlton (@JamarionC26) April 15, 2024
Caught a pick at 7v7 today playin DB I can do it all🤣 pic.twitter.com/zJOzB7a5N6
— Jamarion Carlton (@JamarionC26) June 15, 2024
The home-state Longhorns are the favorites for Carlton at the moment, but if anyone can go head-to-head, it’s Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels.
We caught up with Jamarion to learn more on his offer and his recruitment.
Jamarion on what it means to receive an offer from the Rebels:
“It means a lot. You know, Ole Miss is a big-time school and to receive an offer from them is amazing.”
Jamarion on what stands out about the way Ole Miss has been recruiting him:
“They recruit pretty hard, so you know they hit me up any chance they get which I find great. It shows how much they want to build a relationship.”
Jamarion on what he is looking for most in his future home:
“Relationships and if the place fits me.”
Carlton and his Wildcats are currently 3-1, fresh off a 19-14 victory on the road at San Antonio Reagan on September 13 and a big 52-13 win at home tonight against Austin High.
We look forward to bringing you more with the blue-chip lineman on the recruiting trail.
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Lee Ann is the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She is a veteran SEC sports journalist and NFL content writer. She is also the Sr. Editor for MESPORTS digital. Herring-Olvedo is a Brown University graduate who loves good cigars, good games, and a smooth glass of bourbon — not necessarily in that order.
