OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss continues to build out the infrastructure behind the scenes as Pete Golding’s first staff takes shape, adding experience and continuity to its personnel and scouting departments.
According to a report from CBS Sports, the Rebels are set to welcome back Jai Choudhary as director of player personnel while also bringing in Jake Sugarman to oversee scouting operations. Together, the moves strengthen Ole Miss’ player evaluation pipeline at a critical moment in the modern era of roster management.
Choudhary returns to Oxford after a brief stop in Baton Rouge. He will now slot in under Ole Miss general manager Austin Thomas, rejoining a familiar structure after previously working with Thomas during his time in the SEC. Choudhary’s background includes extensive experience in scouting and NFL relations, along with strong ties to the Ole Miss program—he earned his graduate degree in Oxford after attending Southern Cal.
Ole Miss is hiring LSU’s Jai Choudhary as director of player personnel, a source tells @CBSSports.
Had worked at Ole Miss from 2022-24 before heading to LSU. Now back in Oxford. pic.twitter.com/xXRI8Dw0vn
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 26, 2025
Sugarman arrives from UCLA, where he most recently served as director of scouting. His hiring gives Ole Miss another evaluator with SEC familiarity and a résumé that spans both college and professional football. Before his time with the Bruins, Sugarman spent the 2024 season working in LSU’s personnel department and has held multiple NFL internships, including stints with the Vikings, Browns, Broncos, and Chiefs.
A Minnesota native and Arizona State graduate, Sugarman also spent several years working alongside Kenny Dillingham during his tenure in Tempe, gaining hands-on experience in roster evaluation and talent identification. His background reflects a steady climb through the personnel ranks, with exposure to a wide range of organizational structures and scouting philosophies.
Jake Sugarman will be named director of scouting at Ole Miss, a source tells @CBSSports.
Before serving as director of scouting at UCLA, worked in the personnel and recruiting department at LSU. https://t.co/qe7FKavicl pic.twitter.com/3XJwGKSuRl
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 26, 2025
With these additions, Ole Miss continues to prioritize the off-field pieces that drive success in today’s college football landscape—where evaluation, retention, and roster construction matter as much as what happens on Saturdays.
Next Up
On Thursday, January 1, 2026, Ole Miss takes on Georgia in the quarterfinals of the college football playoff. The two teams are set to kick off at 7:00 p.m. CT in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
