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2025 Dante Core Flips to the ‘Sip from Auburn, Offers his Thoughts on Ole Miss: ‘It really feels like home’

2025 Dante Core Flips to the ‘Sip from Auburn, Offers his Thoughts on Ole Miss: ‘It really feels like home’

OXFORD, Miss. — We knew the Rebels’ 28-10 win over the Georgia Bulldogs would create some shock waves — not just in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot — but also on the recruiting trail. On Monday, class of 2025, two-way player Dante Core flipped his commitment from Auburn to Lane Kiffin’s Rebs.

As former Ole Miss first baseman Tim Elko and current quarterback Jaxson Dart have said: “Don’t let the Rebs get hot!” because you know what can happen!

Just a day-and-a-half after the win over the Bulldogs, the Rebels gained a commitment from Pine Forest’s (Pensacola, FL) Zion Legree and now secured the flip from Core.

The 3-star athlete out of Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach was excited about the win and his time in Oxford Saturday, watching the Rebels play.

We asked him his thoughts on the game.

I thought the game was amazing, from start to finish.

Dante Core on the win over Georgia

Core ranks as the No. 56 cornerback and the No. 84 overall player to come out of Florida. Although we still have some time to go before early signing period, momentum is sure trending Ole Miss’ way.

The 5-foot-11.5, 165-pound Core chose to flip to Ole Miss over Auburn, with notable offers from: Boston College, Charlotte, Arkansas State, LSU, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi State, South Florida, Iowa State, Minnesota, Tulane, and others.

We asked Cole to explain why he picked the Rebels.

What made me choose Ole Miss was the coaches and the players. I love the way these coaches coach, and I love the connection that all the players have. It really feels like home.

Dante Core on choosing Ole Miss

Core knows how to separate himself from the pack, excelling not just  in the realm of football but also in track and field. As a junior, he was a two-way player at Fort Walton Beach, which went 5-5 in Florida’s 3S classification. He totaled 22 tackles, 4 pass breakups and 2 interceptions on defense, while also catching 10 passes for 232 yards and 2 touchdowns on offense.

It looks as if the Rebels have earned another big win with Core’s flip. With his talent and skillset, he will play a role in continuing the Rebels’ defensive dominance.

Hotty Toddy, and welcome to the ‘Sip, Dante!

Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo

Lee Ann serves as the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She 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

Lee Ann serves as the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She 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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