Ole Miss Makes Late Push for Rising Star Lake Charles Running Back Javon Vital Jr.
OXFORD, Miss. — Javon Vital Jr. is an athlete in every sense of the word. This past year alone, he played quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. The three-star athlete shines best at the running back position, however, and the acquisition by the Rebels of former LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson has put Ole Miss in the running for the talented back.
Ole Miss officially offered today. Proud to stand with @FrankWilson28 and my mom Stacey Jones. @OleMissFB @DexterWashing19 pic.twitter.com/NWdpyU8zbn
— Javon “MAN” Vital Jr. (@JavonVital2027) January 21, 2026
The Lake Charles, Louisiana native is obviously an LSU target. Vital holds offers from LSU, Ole Miss, Houston, and USC, just to name a few. In December, he trimmed his list down to a top three: LSU, USC, and Houston. Obviously, that was when Wilson was still a member of LSU’s staff. With his move to the Rebels, the metaphorical door has been kicked open for Ole Miss and its recruitment of Vital.
Vital is coming off a great season, with 3,500 all-purpose yards (1,500+ rush yards, 1,100+ pass yards, 400 return yards) and 49 total touchdowns. There really isn’t another player in the 2027 class that puts on as many hats as Vital. He has all of the tools to be a truly special player and someone who could make an immediate impact with the Rebels.
Hamilton Christian’s @JavonVital2027 runs in for FOURTH touchdown on the day making score 27-13 Hamilton Christian pic.twitter.com/V8uem1AGHG
— Gridiron Football® (@GridironFootbal) September 27, 2025
I had the opportunity to talk with Javon about his recruiting journey, and I wanted to ask a simple question: what drives him?
“My family — my momma, she wants nothing but the best for me, so every time I step on the field and it’s me and another guy, he (is) in the way of feeding my family.” – Javon Vital Jr.
Vital is motivated by a noble cause, fighting for his family, and that shows in his tape. If Pete Golding and the rest of his staff can land him, Vital would be an impact player and a true difference maker for the Rebels, whenever he sees the field, likely his freshman year, as he is that talented.
Luke Dunavant
Luke Dunavant is a junior at the University of Mississippi, majoring in Journalism, with an emphasis in Sports Media and a minor in Sports Management. He is originally from Hernando, Mississippi, and graduated high school from Magnolia Heights. His favorite sports are basketball, football, and soccer. Growing up, he played baseball, football, and soccer at different points, immersing himself in the world of sports. He tries to always bring the same passion he had playing sports into covering them.
