A visit with 2026 four-star WR Jameson Powell on Ole Miss: ‘What has stood out most is how family-oriented they are as a program’
OXFORD, Miss. — “Did Muddy Waters play an acoustic? Well, of course he did. But did he turn his back on being able to plug it in and play louder? No, he plugged in and turned it up and got miles and miles ahead of the game in one fateful act of just plugging in.” – Billy Gibbons, guitarist and lead singer of ZZ Top
This quote hits the nail on the head when it comes to recruiting. There really is no offseason anymore, and with so many recruiting pitches out there, a program has to be able to ‘turn it up’ in order to get noticed and get ahead. Lane Kiffin and his staff are masters at it. They’re now full speed ahead looking for what they want in the class of 2026 — and that includes four-star wide receiver Jameson Powell.
Powell, a Max Preps All American, has exhibited big playmaking ability for Folsom (California) High School. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound speedster is the No. 63 wideout in the nation and the No. 42 overall player out of California.
7 catches for 3tds and 140 receiving yards! First game on the road !!@adamgorney @Zack_Poff_MP @GregBiggins @ChadSimmons_ @BrandonHuffman @SWiltfong_ @CharlesPower @Passing_Academy @CoachScottRob @coach_angel3 pic.twitter.com/ey7m4RPAFG
— Jameson powell 4 ⭐️ ® (@JAMESONPOWELL_) October 6, 2024
The Rebels’ also have Powell’s Folsom High quarterback, 5-star Ryder Lyons, on their radar. Coach Kiffin recently caught up with Lyons out in California this past week.
The Quick Take:
Ole Miss wide receiver coach George McDonald and Lane Kiffin have made Powell a priority as they build their future wide receivers room. Powell is extremely productive and likely projects to play the slot in college. He is shifty and swift with elite hands.
Triple R Real – Route – Runner Foreal @adamgorney @Rivals @RivalsCamp pic.twitter.com/DiAFiX1EOc
— Jameson powell 4 ⭐️ ® (@JAMESONPOWELL_) March 28, 2024
Powell is one of those players who can make something out of nothing in critical situations. While he may not fit the prototypical size, he makes up for it with his elite skillset.
5 CATCHES for 3 TDS and 135 REC YARDS in last nights game to end the regular season!! Great team win 🐶🐶 #road2state @adamgorney @Zack_Poff_MP @GregBiggins @ChadSimmons_ @BrandonHuffman @SWiltfong_ @CharlesPower @Passing_Academy @CoachScottRob @coach_angel3 pic.twitter.com/uteeU5ExeX
— Jameson powell 4 ⭐️ ® (@JAMESONPOWELL_) November 3, 2024
We visited with Powell recently to catch up about his recruitment, along with his recent in-home visit from Coach McDonald and what he has noticed with the Rebels’ recruiting.
“What has stood out most is how family-oriented they are as a program, and I liked that the most.”
Jameson Powell
Across the country, coaches are hitting the recruiting trail and, as we mentioned, Coach McDonald was able to stop in to see Powell recently, and it put the Rebels in an even stronger standing with the talented player.
Had a great home visit with @CoachGMcDonald appreciate u coming to see me and my family coach !! @OleMissFB @Lane_Kiffin @WeisJr_M #hottytoddy pic.twitter.com/065UZ0p7EZ
— Jameson powell 4 ⭐️ ® (@JAMESONPOWELL_) January 20, 2025
“My home visit went great. I had a great conversation with Coach McDonald. He is a great guy, and I can for sure see him being a future coach for me!”
Jameson Powell
Being sought out by so many programs, Powell understands the importance of keeping the main thing, the main thing as he searches for his college program. When we asked him what he’s most looking for, he replied: “A place I can develop and become a better man and athlete — and also keep God the center of it all.”
The Rebs will have their work cut out for them as a number of other schools are hot on the trail of Powell, but it is apparent from our time with him that Ole Miss has left a strong impression.
“I am vibing with a lot of good schools, such as Arizona, Washington, USC, Cal, etc. but I’m most strong with Ole Miss,” Powell explains.
We asked Powell what believes he would bring to a Rebel program rich in wide receiver history.
“What I can bring to my future program is a leader, a hard worker, a competitor, and, most importantly, a child of God.”
Jameson Powell
By embracing the electric guitar and amplifier, the legendary Muddy Waters helped shape the sound of Chicago blues and significantly impacted the development of rock and roll. Lane Kiffin, in his own inimitable style, is ‘turning it up’ on the recruiting trail.
We will keep you updated on Powell’s recruiting journey, so stay tuned!
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.
