OXFORD, Miss. — Head coach Pete Golding and the Rebels have added defensive back Tony Mitchell, a former Top-150 national recruit whose path to Oxford has been anything but conventional.
Former MS State Defensive Back Tony Mitchell has committed to Ole Miss! Hotty Toddy! pic.twitter.com/4UVyf06hTA
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) January 20, 2026
Mitchell arrives at Ole Miss after spending the 2025 season with Mississippi State, where he appeared in 11 games and finished with 25 tackles, including four tackles for loss. Prior to his stop in Starkville, Mitchell played at East Mississippi Community College, continuing to develop after an early college career shaped by change at the top.
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Originally a member of the 2023 recruiting class, Mitchell signed with Alabama out of Thompson High School in Alabama. His departure from Tuscaloosa came in the aftermath of Nick Saban’s unexpected retirement shortly after signing day, prompting Mitchell to seek a new path forward.
Coming out of high school, Mitchell was one of the most highly regarded defensive backs in the country. According to the On3 Industry Rankings, he checked in as the No. 116 overall player nationally, the No. 10 safety in the class, and Alabama’s No. 12 senior prospect. A decorated prep standout, Mitchell earned both Under Armour All-America and MaxPreps All-America honors and helped lead Thompson High School to three consecutive state championships.
On the field, Mitchell brings size and versatility to the Ole Miss secondary. Listed around 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, he entered college as a cornerback before transitioning toward safety, allowing his frame and physicality to become part of his game. He’s comfortable in man coverage, uses length and fluidity to play the ball in the air, and has shown a willingness to be physical when working downhill in the middle of the field.
For Ole Miss, the addition is as much about familiarity as it is upside.
Golding recruited Mitchell out of high school and now reunites with him in Oxford, adding a defensive back who understands high-level expectations and has continued to mature through multiple systems. As the Rebels reload the secondary, Mitchell offers experience, size, and developmental potential — a combination that fits what Ole Miss has targeted in the portal.
After a winding journey that included blue-chip expectations, junior college development, and SEC reps in Starkville, Mitchell now gets a fresh start in red and blue — and a chance to finally settle into a role that matches his pedigree.
