Jase Mathews isn’t just another name on a recruiting board - he’s the headliner for Ole Miss’ 2026 class, and for good reason. The standout wide receiver from Leakesville, Mississippi, carved out a dominant high school career at Greene County, and now he’s bringing that talent to Oxford as one of the Rebels’ early enrollees.
Ranked as the No. 95 overall prospect in the country by 247Sports, Mathews checks in as the No. 13 wide receiver in the class and the No. 5 player in Mississippi. That’s elite company, and it’s a big win for a Rebels program that’s been in pursuit of him for years. Ole Miss was actually the first school to extend Mathews a scholarship offer, way back in June 2023 - a move that clearly laid the groundwork for what became a long-term relationship.
But this wasn’t a drama-free recruitment. Far from it.
Mathews' path to Ole Miss took a few twists, especially late in the process. As the Rebels underwent a significant coaching staff overhaul in November, the situation got, in Mathews’ own words, “a little awkward.”
That’s not uncommon when staffs change - relationships shift, messages evolve, and recruits have to reassess what a program really looks like moving forward. Still, Mathews showed a mature perspective, noting that “change can be for the good.”
That mindset turned out to be crucial.
Because while Ole Miss was navigating its internal changes, other SEC heavyweights were circling. LSU, Texas A&M, and Auburn all made strong pushes during the early signing period.
Auburn, in fact, had Mathews committed at one point. But as signing week wore on, the Rebels made their move - and made it count.
The key figure in flipping Mathews back to Oxford? Donte Moncrief.
Yes, that Donte Moncrief - former Ole Miss star wideout turned staffer, and more importantly in this case, Mathews’ older cousin. That family connection played a major role in the final decision.
Moncrief’s presence on staff gave Ole Miss a unique edge, not just in trust and familiarity, but in showing Mathews a clear vision of what his future could look like in the Rebels’ offense.
By the final day of the early signing period, Mathews had made his call: he was flipping from Auburn and signing with Ole Miss.
For the Rebels, this is a big-time get - not just because of Mathews’ ranking, but because of what he represents. He’s a homegrown talent with SEC offers up and down the board, and he chose to stay in-state.
That’s a statement. And with his early enrollment, he’ll get a jumpstart on spring ball, giving the coaching staff a chance to start molding him into a contributor from day one.
Ole Miss has landed a difference-maker in Jase Mathews. Now it’s time to see how quickly he can translate those high school highlights into SEC production.