Flip in the ‘Sip! Ole Miss Legacy Jayden Curtis Commits to the Rebels
OXFORD, Miss. — It had been a while since we had heard the rallying cry of “Flip to the Sip,” but now we have heard it for the second time in less than a week. We can never underestimate Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels on the recruiting trail. This past week, the Rebels made waves with a monster flip from elite in-state lineman Emanuel Tucker. Now, they’re adding another powerhouse to their roster: Ole Miss legacy Jayden Curtis.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 280 pounds, Curtis hails from St. Martin High School in Ocean Springs. On Monday, he made headlines by announcing his decision to flip from UCF to Ole Miss.
“Locked in and ready 🏠🦈, #RebelNation! 🔴🔵 #StayInTheSip #HottyToddy” #Committed@CoachGolding @LetsGo_Bo5 @Lane_Kiffin @LoganThornburgh @Rebels247 @BillyEmbody @247Sports @Rivals @CoachAdamsMGCCC @tlala2 @StMartinFB @CoachDecoteau_ @KurtisMyers555 pic.twitter.com/O0l6Bah6KD
— Jayden Curtis⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@JayCurtis2008) September 8, 2025
After he initially pledged his allegiance to the Knights, everything changed when he returned home for the Rebels’ season opener against Georgia State. The momentum shifted dramatically as Curtis—son of former Ole Miss basketball star Dwayne Curtis—decided to embrace his family legacy, but now on the gridiron.
This marks yet another victory for defensive line coach Randall Joyner, who has worked tirelessly along the recruiting front to ensure that Mississippi’s top talent remains within state borders. As one of the most promising prospects in the nation, Curtis is currently ranked as the No. 76 overall defensive lineman for 2026 and stands as Mississippi’s No. 29 prospect.
Last season alone, Curtis showcased his skills with an impressive stat line: 52 tackles, 15 tackles for loss (TFLs), six sacks, one forced fumble (FF), and even an interception—all while playing for St. Martin. His versatility is remarkable; not only does he excel as a formidable edge rusher, but he also shines as a tight end. Combining physicality with agility makes him an invaluable asset on both sides of the ball.
We had an opportunity to catch up with Jayden following his flip to discuss what ultimately influenced his decision to stay closer to home:
“I’ve decided that staying close to home is the best decision for me and my family. Playing in the SEC presents an incredible opportunity, and it means a lot to me to represent my state. This choice allows my family to attend home games without extensive travel, making it easier for them to support me. Ultimately, this decision aligns with both my personal goals and my family’s needs.”
Jayden Curtis
With talent, heart, and a Rebel legacy coursing through him, Jayden Curtis adds another dynamic depth prospect for Ole Miss’ 2026 roster. As Lane Kiffin leads No. 17 Ole Miss into their Week 3 matchup against Arkansas at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium—kickoff set for 6 PM CT—the excitement continues to build.
As for Jayden and St. Martin, they head into week three of their season at 2-0. They will play on the road Friday against the Stone Tomcats. Kick-off is set from Wiggins, MS at 7PM CT
Welcome home, Jayden! Sip Made! Sip Stayed!
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.
