Pete Golding and Lane Kiffin are in a tug-of-war over one of the most influential recruiters in the South - Frank Wilson. And make no mistake, whoever lands him could reshape the future of talent acquisition in Louisiana and beyond.
Golding, now building out his staff at Ole Miss, has been making calculated moves. Just last week, he brought back Micheal Spurlock - a former Rebel with NFL credentials - into the fold.
But the name turning heads isn’t Spurlock. It’s Wilson, the man who once coached Golding at UTSA and now finds himself in a pivotal position as LSU’s interim head coach.
Golding wants Wilson in Oxford. Kiffin, who took the reins at LSU on November 26, is doing everything he can to keep him in Baton Rouge. Only one of them gets their way.
Here’s why this matters: Wilson isn’t just another assistant. He’s the guy in Louisiana when it comes to recruiting.
His track record speaks for itself - names like Leonard Fournette, Tyrann Mathieu, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and La’el Collins all came through Baton Rouge under his watch. He’s earned the trust of high school coaches across the state, and his presence on a staff instantly opens doors in one of the most talent-rich regions in the country.
Steven Willis broke it down on Locked On Ole Miss, and the implications are clear. If Golding lands Wilson, the Rebels don’t just get a recruiter - they get a pipeline into New Orleans and the broader Louisiana recruiting scene.
That’s a big deal. Golding already proved he could pull talent out of Louisiana during his time at Alabama.
Now imagine him teaming up with the guy who built that Louisiana fence in the first place.
Willis put it plainly: “That will be a major weapon to expand on the talent that Mississippi is growing with at the high school level.”
The connection between Golding and Wilson runs deep. Nearly a decade ago, Wilson gave Golding a shot as defensive coordinator at UTSA.
Golding took that opportunity and ran with it - eventually landing at Alabama, winning a national championship, and now leading the Rebels. Wilson’s path was different.
After UTSA, he was let go, but LSU brought him back for one reason: nobody recruits Louisiana like Frank Wilson.
Now, with LSU in transition and the Texas Bowl looming on December 27, Wilson is weighing his options. He met with reporters on December 10 and acknowledged discussions with Kiffin, but said nothing’s been finalized.
“We’ve had conversations. For me and for Coach Kiffin, let’s play this game on the 27th, and we’ll go into those details later,” Wilson said.
That game - and what happens after - could determine which program locks down Louisiana for the next several years.
Wilson’s name had also surfaced in Austin. Steve Sarkisian reportedly wanted him to replace Chad Scott, who was let go after just one season coaching Texas running backs.
But that door closed on December 13 when Texas hired Jabbar Juluke away from Florida. That leaves just two contenders: stay with Kiffin at LSU or reunite with Golding at Ole Miss.
Wilson’s résumé is unmatched. He was named Rivals.com’s Recruiter of the Year in 2011.
NFL.com dubbed him the best recruiter in college football just three years later. He’s not just pulling blue-chip names - he’s shaping rosters that contend for national titles.
If LSU loses him to Ole Miss, the ripple effect could be massive. It wouldn’t just hurt the 2026 class - it could disrupt the Tigers’ recruiting rhythm for years. On the flip side, Golding would be arming his Rebels with a recruiter who knows how to win battles in SEC territory.
Golding’s staff is nearly complete. His defensive crew is staying intact, and Charlie Weis Jr. will finish out the playoffs before joining Kiffin in Baton Rouge. But the last big domino is Wilson - a decision that could swing the recruiting pendulum in the SEC.
One program keeps its Louisiana wall standing. The other kicks it down and walks through. Wilson holds the key, and he’ll make his call after one final game wearing purple and gold.