Ole Miss linebacker signee Bryson Walters named Mississippi Class 4A Defensive Player of Year: ‘I am honored to represent 4A as the Defensive POY’
OXFORD, Miss. — After facing a mountain of adversity, Ole Miss class of 2025 signee Bryson Walters has been named Mississippi’s 4A Defensive Player of the Year for his record-breaking performance at linebacker for Itawamba Agricultural High School.
Congrats to @BrysonCWalters for being name the ALL-STATE 4A Defensive Player of the Year. We are so proud of the way you have lead and repped the program in your time as an Indian. #ITABoy #built-different pic.twitter.com/7NClVD5NL9
— IAHS_FB (@IAHS_FB) December 7, 2024
Walters embodies not just the passion of the game of football, but also the strong roots of a Mississippi upbringing. When you take a look at his career thus far, there’s no question regarding the heart and grit he brings to the table, not just as a top linebacker but also as a teammate.
An athlete always hopes the last ride of his high school career will go smoothly and that the transition to college, for those lucky enough to go to the next level, will be an uneventful one.
But in Walters’ case that wasn’t exactly what happened.
His senior season was cut short due to injury, as he suffered a torn ACL in the October 25 game against Shannon. but even in his earlier-than-expected departure he left a lasting legacy as an elite player for the Itawamba Indians. He set program records and racked up plenty of accolades.
Before his injury, the 6-2, 220-pound Walters was leading the state in tackles. He finished his career at Itawamba as the school’s all-time leading tackler. Throughout his 45-game career, Walters notched 491 tackles, 277 solo and 214 assists. He averaged 10.9 tackles per game and also tallied 55 tackles-for-loss, nine sacks, 51 QB hurries, five interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and two touchdowns.
Fast forward after surgery and a now-rehabbing Walters continues to push through to focus on getting stronger as he officially prepares for his next chapter as a Rebel.
3 weeks sense surgery. This was the first time getting the petal all the way around. Coming back stronger … bet on it! #BuiltDifferent @OleMissFB @CoachGolding @coachkitchens42 @Lane_Kiffin pic.twitter.com/LWbhSnB3g7
— Bryson Walters (@BrysonCWalters) December 3, 2024
Walters signed with Ole Miss on the first day of the early signing period, this past Wednesday.
It’s #OFFICAL!!! ✍🏼#HottyToddy #HOME @CoachGolding @OleMissFB @Lane_Kiffin @coachkitchens42 @IAHS_FB @chriswalters10 @MamaJAWalters pic.twitter.com/IwlDMRFtez
— Bryson Walters (@BrysonCWalters) December 4, 2024
He deserves it! He put the hard work into becoming the player he is today! We love you bubby, and are always proud of you🖤💛➡️🩵❤️ @BrysonCWalters @chriswalters10 https://t.co/O3IKYH7vsl
— Jamie Allison Walters (@MamaJAWalters) December 7, 2024
We caught up with Walters following this announcement so he could share his thoughts on what it means to him to receive this award.
“I am honored to represent 4A as the Defensive POY in this state. There are a lot of good players out there and to be picked as the best on the defensive side is very humbling. Feels good that the coaches felt that strongly about me even after getting hurt. I am blessed.”
Bryson Walters
Walters is living proof that talent, heart and grit can overcome adversity any day of the week.
Congrats, Bryson!
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.



