Ole Miss LB commit Bryson Walters is earning awards for his play on the field and handling adversity off of it
OXFORD, Miss. — We all face tough times at different points in our lives, but it’s the way we respond to those moments and challenges that are important. Ole Miss commit Bryson Walters has already learned this in his young life, as he is recovering from a season-ending injury with all the leadership and class you can imagine.
The three-star linebacker from Fulton, Miss. has been committed to the Rebels since August. Watching Walters play, it’s clear why he was so heavily recruited by Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding.
@BrysonCWalters can flat out play!! https://t.co/tmgGzhfjKo
— Coach Sam Hathorn (@SamuelHathorn) October 12, 2024
The 2025 Rebel linebacker commit grew up just an hour down the road from Oxford, and his roots are not just planted here in the ‘Sip, but also in the game of football. Like many seniors, Walters was looking to write one final chapter and close out his career at Itawamba Agricultural High School strongly, but sometimes life just has something else in store.
Since the beginning of his senior campaign, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Walters was a force for the Itawamba Ag defense, creating chaos for the opposition and helping the Indians get to the playoffs. A little less than a month ago, after helping his team defeat Shannon, 44-17, Walters suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
Our son tore his left ACL Friday night, which requires surgery. 4 years watching @BrysonCWalters grow & learn from the best coaches in the state & the BEST coach of all, his dad. Next time he’s on a field, he’ll be an Ole Miss Rebel🩵❤️🦈
#11 over & out, for now✌🏼@chriswalters10 pic.twitter.com/xAsIVTB0vD— Jamie Allison Walters (@MamaJAWalters) October 28, 2024
But even while facing one of the greatest obstacles for any athlete, an injury, Walters never shied away from the adversity he was facing.
He remained steadfast, supporting both his Itawamba Ag team and his future Ole Miss team. He was a leader from the sidelines for his Indians’ team and also has made it a point to be present on the Ole Miss sidelines at home games with fellow Rebels and prospects to help with the recruiting efforts. By the looks of things, that has certainly helped as Ole Miss recruiting is on fire.
What a great night to be a Rebel! So blessed to be a part of this family. Atmosphere was electric! Let’s go close this thing out the next two weeks and get ready for the playoffs. #HottyFreakinToddy @OleMissFB @CoachGolding @Lane_Kiffin @coachkitchens42 @SantanaMcKnight pic.twitter.com/5Udl44uO7n
— Bryson Walters (@BrysonCWalters) November 10, 2024
Walter’s surgery was a success and he is making great progress in his recovery.
He is all finished up! No meniscus tears! Just his ACL, which is good news! Thank you for all the calls, prayers, and texts! He’s already ready to be fully rehabbed! He even said he was going to play Friday night (LOL jk)😜@BrysonCWalters @chriswalters10 pic.twitter.com/dhJcsG3D4p
— Jamie Allison Walters (@MamaJAWalters) November 12, 2024
Regardless of the injury that cut his high school career a little bit short, Walters definitely is leaving his mark on the program. He became the new ALL-time leading tackler in program history.
Bryson Walters is the new ALL time leading tackler for Itawamba AHS. Career stats: 45 GP, 277 Solos, 214 Assist, 491 Total , 10.9 TPG , 55 TFL, 9 Sacks, 51 QB Hur, 5 INTs, 13 FF, 6 FR, 2 TDs. Congrats on an awesome career and representing the brand well! #ITA pic.twitter.com/6Bq5VZAKCQ
— IAHS_FB (@IAHS_FB) November 13, 2024
We had a chance to catch up with Bryson for him to share what this means to him.
“With my dad being a coach here for 11 years, I have grown up hearing about all the greats he has coached and even the ones that were before him. It’s just crazy to think that my name might get mentioned in this conversation now. Blessed to be able to leave my mark on such a talented program.”
Bryson Walters on being the all-time leading tackler in school history
For his work and efforts, Bryson has also been named the Region 1-4A Defensive MVP.
Congratulations to Bryson Walters for being selected as Region 1-4A Defensive MVP. pic.twitter.com/4NJJg65Y0e
— Itawamba AHS (@ItawambaAHS) November 15, 2024
It is easy to see why the Rebels are so glad to have Walters joining the program. Talent is one thing, but your ability to respond in the wake of incredible challenges often can be the most valuable trait to have when you play at the next level. Walters has both.
#SipMadeSipStayed
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.
