All Eyes on Five-Star Felix Ojo: Elite 2026 Offensive Tackle in Oxford for Ole Miss Visit
OXFORD, Miss. — When it comes to building elite football programs, few names in recruiting carry more weight in the trenches right now than five-star 2026 offensive tackle Felix Ojo— and Lane Kiffin is making sure Ole Miss is firmly in the mix as the top 5 recruit in the class is in Oxford this weekend.
— Felix Ojo 🇳🇬 (@FelixTheOL) April 19, 2025
Ojo, a 6-foot-6, 270-pounder from Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas, is one of the most coveted offensive linemen in the class of 2026. With over 50 scholarship offers and a résumé that ranks him as the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 2 overall player in Texas, Ojo has quickly become a high-priority target for the Rebels.
As head coach Lane Kiffin and offensive line coach John Garrison look to reinforce a roster hit hard by offensive departures, their strategy is clear: invest in the future — and that means investing in young talent like Ojo.
While Ole Miss has done a masterful job balancing the transfer portal and high school recruiting, few positions require as much foresight and development as the offensive line. And that’s where Ojo stands out.
He’s not just big — he’s built to move. I had the chance to watch him at the Navy All-American Bowl, and despite being one of the youngest players there, he dominated reps with his combination of size, strength, and polished technique. Over the past month, he’s only continued to separate himself, validating the buzz that helped earn him 5-star status.
Felix Ojo wasn’t letting anyone past him in 1-on-1’s 🧱 @FelixTheOL
His performance at UA Next Camp in Dallas earned him an invitation to the 2026 Under Armour All-America game. Well deserved 🙌 #UANext pic.twitter.com/7o3T0f4swT
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) February 16, 2025
Ojo’s growth is obvious. Every time he steps on the field, his physicality and football IQ take another step forward. He’s a natural athlete with tremendous upside and, most importantly, a solid foundation to build on as he enters his senior year.
And it’s not just football where he shines — Ojo is also a skilled basketball player, bringing elite footwork, agility, and coordination to the offensive line. That two-sport versatility is a big reason why top programs are in hot pursuit.
End of Regular Season Basketball First District Champs In School History. #24 In The Nation #2 In Texas by @MaxPreps pic.twitter.com/f77B165LK6
— Felix Ojo 🇳🇬 (@FelixTheOL) February 12, 2025
Among the heavy hitters: Texas, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma — and yes, Ole Miss is right there in the fight.
We caught up with him ahead of the visit, and he had high praise for how Kiffin and Garrison have handled his recruitment:
“What stood out about the way Ole Miss recruited me was how much they were pushing for me and how consistent they were throughout the process. My relationship with Coach Garrison and Kiffin helped Ole Miss onto the list of my top schools because of how much I trust them.”
Felix Ojo on Ole Miss
As for what he’s looking for in a program:
“What I’m looking for most in my future home is somewhere I can get developed to be a first-rounder while also getting a great education.”
Felix Ojo
When asked what sets him apart from others in his class:
“My X-factor I can bring to any school is my football IQ and my pass protection, which I believe is the best in my class.”
Felix Ojo
Ojo plans to make his final decision after all official visits are complete — and with each stop, the picture becomes a little clearer.
If there was ever a recruiting cycle where young offensive line talent could define a program’s future, 2026 is it, and Felix Ojo is at the center of it. His work ethic, presence, and raw ability make him a rare investment with high upside — and the Rebels know it.
End of Junior Season Highlights @samspiegs @MikeRoach247 @adamgorney @ChadSimmons_ @BrandonHuffman @TheUCReport @SWiltfong_ @GPowersScout @HankSouth247 @247Hudson @CodyNagel247 @CraigHaubert @Hayesfawcett3 @RivalsFriedman @GregSmithRivals @JohnGarcia_Jr https://t.co/6wiRKy9ABs pic.twitter.com/KhUUOqXsti
— Felix Ojo 🇳🇬 (@FelixTheOL) November 9, 2024
We’ll have more with Ojo soon. But for now…Welcome to the ‘Sip, Felix!
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
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.
