Top 2027 Offensive Lineman Ismael Camara’s Recruiting Stock Soars as Ole Miss Makes a Strong Early Impression
OXFORD, Miss. — Just over a year ago, 2027 interior offensive lineman Ismael “Bigish” Camara’s journey was far from Gilmer, Texas and football. However, fate had other plans for this native of Le Mans, France, as he is now establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the heart of Texas high school football. We had a chance to visit with the four-star lineman recently to talk about his journey and what he’s looking for in a college.
Despite not yet having the chance to play on varsity due to Texas high school transfer rules, Camara is already living up to his nickname, “Bigish.” Standing at an impressive 6-foot-6, 356 pounds with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he is catching the attention of top programs.
In addition to Ole Miss, Camara holds offers from: Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Florida, Houston, LSU, Nebraska, North Texas, SMU, Stephen F. Austin, TCU, Tennessee, A&M, Texas State, and Texas Tech, among others.
Ranked as the No. 2 IOL in the nation and the No. 56 player in the country at any position, Camara is making waves in the recruiting world.
While he has been honing his skills on sub-varsity due to transfer rules, Camara’s talent is undeniable. With a background in soccer and basketball, his speed and footwork are exceptional for someone of his size. It comes as no surprise that he stood out and earned MVP honors at the Navy All-American Combine. He continues to impress, notching an Offensive Line MVP performance at the Rivals camp in Dallas, and there’s no doubt Camara is setting the bar high for himself this off-season.
2nd part 🎥 pic.twitter.com/ocgnelVoNN
— 4🌟Ismael’’BIGISH’’Camara (@Only1_iscamara) May 5, 2025
The offensive line is an area of focus for Ole Miss, and Camara could be the missing piece they are looking for. With his potential and talent, he is clearly a player worth investing in. As the Rebels begin their recruitment efforts, all eyes are on Camara.
A visit with Camara
The Rebel Walk had the opportunity to interview Camara following his impressive performance at Rivals Dallas to discuss his recruitment and the impact of Rebels’ offensive line coach John Garrison on the talented athlete’s relationship with Ole Miss.
Camara talked to us about his performance at Rivals Dallas and the advice Coach Garrison gave him.
“It is not surprising. It is humbling, but not surprising. Coach Garrison told me last summer what to expect. He said this would happen if I just controlled the things I could control, which was working hard every day and just finding a way to get better every day. Those words meant a lot to me then and they mean a lot to me now. As far as schools go, it is all about continuing this journey and building relationships. The one thing I have learned the past year in this crazy ‘portal-driven’ world is that 2-3 years is a very long time. Players change schools and so do coaches. But the relationships and development have to be a constant. So I just try to focus on those things for now.”
Ismael Camara
With interest skyrocketing and numerous SEC schools vying for his attention, we inquired of Camara what has impressed him most about Ole Miss and their recruiting efforts.
“Coach Garrison. He is also a guy who has been there and done that as a player. His results and track record speak for themselves. I think Ole Miss was one of the best teams in the country last season, and what Coach Kiffin and the Rebs accomplished… I don’t know that any one of the CFP teams would have wanted to look up in January and see Ole Miss in their bracket. It just speaks to how much this staff knows what they are doing.”
Ismael Camara on Ole Miss
Camara, like many blue-chip prospects, has a list of football boxes to check off. However, he shared with us what he is most looking for in his future home in the grand scheme of things.
“Connection. I am an ‘all-in’ kind of guy. People are always poking me about what my future holds. But they don’t know me. They don’t know what I have done to get here. I could be making six figures already in high school, and I get offers every week to transfer someplace to play for ‘more.’ But for me, I am connected to Gilmer, Texas. This is where my family is. This is where my boys are. This is my town, and this is my team. My ‘more’ is where I am connected. I don’t see myself ever transferring or wavering once I commit. There is a school out there that is going to be ‘my school.’ I have only been here a year, and I haven’t seen every school yet that has offered me, much less the ones that haven’t. I have an idea now of the things I am looking for, but that is evolving too. But my one-word answer to that question is ‘connection.’”
Ismael Camara on what he is most looking for in a college
The next few weeks will be quite busy for Ismael as he visits plenty of the top programs.
“I will be all over the place in June, camps and unofficial visits. After that, I will lock in until the Gilmer Buckeyes are State Champs again. I didn’t get to play last season. This season, the Gilmer Buckeyes have unfinished business. My presence will be felt handling that business with my team. All of this recruiting is great, and I have a long way to go in my process. But my goals right now are around my team, and the opponents on our schedule.”
Ismael Camara
Camara has already displayed flashes of talent that are nothing short of impressive. What does he, himself, believe he brings to the table that has programs keeping such a close eye on him?
“My mentality. That is the one thing that I think is already where it needs to be. Everything else needs a lot of work and there is a lot of room to get better. My favorite player is Trent Williams. He calls it ‘Silverback’ mentality. It is an obsession with winning every snap, every series, every drive, of every game. That is something I have always had. There is no amount of work, no amount of pain, no amount of sacrifice too great to win. Lots of guys are big, strong, fast, technical, and smart. Those are things I work on daily to improve. But without the mentality, somebody is going to quit first. And that will never be me.”
Ismael Camara on his mindset
Camara recognizes his God-given talent and continues to nurture it, but he also brings a plethora of intangibles that set him apart as an elite force in the trenches. We eagerly anticipate witnessing him in action at IMG this summer and in Gilmer this upcoming season.
Kick steps…LOVE IT. pic.twitter.com/DQX7Ezp1gR
— 4🌟Ismael’’BIGISH’’Camara (@Only1_iscamara) May 5, 2025
Stay tuned to The Rebel Walk for more on Ismael’s recruitment.
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Lee Ann is the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She is a veteran SEC sports journalist and NFL content writer. She is also the Sr. Editor for MESPORTS digital. Herring-Olvedo is a Brown University graduate who loves good cigars, good games, and a smooth glass of bourbon — not necessarily in that order.
