Corey Barber, one of the most electric wideouts in the 2026 recruiting class, is back on the market.
The four-star receiver out of Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama, announced Sunday that he’s decommitting from Ole Miss and reopening his recruitment. The decision comes just days before the Early Signing Period opens and in the wake of Lane Kiffin’s departure from Oxford to take over at LSU.
Barber, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound playmaker with top-50 national receiver rankings, originally committed to the Rebels in May. He chose Ole Miss over a stacked list of suitors that included Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee - a who’s who of SEC blue bloods that had been in heavy pursuit. At the time, Barber cited strong relationships with the coaching staff and a comfort level in Oxford that separated the Rebels from the pack.
“I’m comfortable there,” Barber said shortly after his commitment. “They treat me and my family like family.
I’ve been to practice plus an official visit, so I’ve spent more time at Ole Miss than the others. It’s a great program with a great, experienced coaching staff.
And a great and very supportive community.”
That familiarity, paired with a deep dive into the Rebels’ offensive production under offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., helped seal the deal back in the spring. Barber sat down with Weis to watch film and break down the numbers, and came away impressed with how Ole Miss had been moving the ball in recent seasons.
But with Kiffin now headed to Baton Rouge, the foundation that helped secure Barber’s commitment has shifted. And as is often the case in recruiting, coaching changes can quickly reshape a player’s outlook. Barber is now back on the board - and with his talent and resume, expect programs to come calling fast and hard.
This is a big blow to Ole Miss’ 2026 class. Barber was the second-highest ranked commit in the Rebels’ haul and a key piece of what was shaping up to be a dynamic offensive group. His decommitment leaves a noticeable hole in a class that had been gaining steam.
BREAKING: Four-Star WR Corey Barber has Decommitted from Ole Miss, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’1 185 WR from Pinson, AL had been Committed to the Rebels since May
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 30, 2025
Was the 2nd highest-ranked recruit in the Rebels’ 2026 Classhttps://t.co/oIxZRfp4KC pic.twitter.com/U58OqtCa1D
Still, not all is lost for the Rebels. Landon Barnes, the crown jewel of the class and the top-rated EDGE rusher in Texas, has reaffirmed his commitment despite Kiffin’s exit. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive menace out of Duncanville has held firm, giving Ole Miss fans something to feel good about as the program transitions into a new era.
No matter what🦈🦈 pic.twitter.com/DF0B51xLlS
— Landon Barnes (@LandoB26) November 30, 2025
Barnes committed in June, and like Barber, he had no shortage of big-time programs chasing him. LSU, Texas, Ohio State, and Georgia were all in the mix. But it was the energy and consistency from the Ole Miss staff that ultimately won him over.
“I felt the love from the staff,” Barnes said. “They showed great love and a lot of energy toward me.
The people [at Ole Miss] really got to know me well and it showed me a lot as a recruit. I was there for a spring practice, then for an official visit, and the energy was always there.
They showed me that they wanted me.”
Barnes sticking with the Rebels is a major win, especially at a time when coaching turnover can rattle even the most solid commitments. As for Barber, his recruitment now reopens with plenty of time left before National Signing Day - and no shortage of powerhouse programs ready to make their pitch.
The next few weeks will be telling, both for Barber’s future and for how Ole Miss regroups in a post-Kiffin world. But one thing’s for sure: the 2026 cycle just got a lot more interesting.