Ole Miss Eyes Future with 2026 Elite Four-Star QB Landon Duckworth
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss has consistently demonstrated its ability to develop quarterbacks—whether through the transfer portal or the high school ranks. Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin is a true quarterback whisperer, so it’s no surprise that when it comes to building depth for the future, he’s targeting top-tier talent such as 2026 four-star QB Landon Duckworth, who is also a talented basketball player.
🤦🏾♂️😂🟣🟡#FinalFourBound#WIN2 pic.twitter.com/OC3gbVUe3Y
— Landon “DUCK🦆” Duckworth (@LandonDuckworth) February 19, 2025
Ole Miss has set the bar high in its quarterback recruiting efforts, and Duckworth one of the top names on its board. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound, four-star prospect from Jackson High School in Alabama is ranked No. 47 overall in the class in the nation, the No. 6 overall quarterback, and the No. 3 player in Alabama. He is coming off last season where he threw for 4,000+ yards and 50+ TDs, so it’s no wonder why so many top programs are pursuing him.
He has already helped lead his team to back-to-back state championships—not just in football, but in basketball as well.
Reps🏈‼️ 🦆🎯 @JacksonFootball @QBCountry @overtime pic.twitter.com/oFhWffVQmV
— Landon “DUCK🦆” Duckworth (@LandonDuckworth) March 26, 2025
The former South Carolina commit has one of the highest ceilings in his class, and his growing offer sheet reflects that. Fresh off a strong showing at an Elite 11 regional, Duckworth has also committed to the 2026 All-American Navy Bowl in San Antonio.
🏈🦆After talking with @TomLoy247 I am committed to the 2026 All-American Navy Bowl Game @AABonNBC @Andrew_Ivins@JacksonFootball @QBCountry! pic.twitter.com/AAaDCCwGqC
— Landon “DUCK🦆” Duckworth (@LandonDuckworth) March 28, 2025
This past week, Duckworth returned to Oxford for another visit, and we had the opportunity to catch up with him.
📍@OleMissFB 🔴🔵🦈 pic.twitter.com/wf0NxsM1N9
— Landon “DUCK🦆” Duckworth (@LandonDuckworth) March 27, 2025
It’s clear that Coach Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. have made Duckworth a top priority in their recruiting efforts, and Duckworth shared with us what has stood out to him.
“Coach Kiffin and Coach Weis’ offense and development plans for QBs, and them just letting me know I’m their top guy,” Duckworth says about what has caught his attention.
This wasn’t Duckworth’s first visit to Oxford, but he emphasized what he was most looking forward to. “Just getting back around everybody to learn more about the program,” he explained ahead of the visit.
Even for elite athletes—especially quarterbacks—finding the right fit within a program is crucial. We asked Duckworth what Lane Kiffin has shared with him about his potential fit in the Rebels’ offense in the future.
“The offense he runs and what he likes to do fit my play style and who I am as a QB.”
Landon Duckworth on how Coach Kiffin sees him fitting in with the Rebs
The Rebels have positioned themselves well in Duckworth’s recruitment. Of course, they’ll have to fend off competition from other top programs. Here’s his schedule of visits as of this writing.
Landon Duckworth’s Official Visits:
- Georgia: May 30 – June 1
- South Carolina: June 6 – 8
- Florida State: June 13 – 15
- Ole Miss: June 20 – 22
There’s no question the Rebels have a proven track record of developing quarterbacks at all levels, helping them unlock even greater potential when they come to play in the ‘SIP.
We’ll be on hand this weekend in Dallas at OT7 to see Duckworth in action with his team, RWE. Stay tuned!
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.
