As Ole Miss works through its 2026 position previews, the conversation finally shifts from the front seven to the corners. And if this group has one defining trait, it’s that the standard in Oxford has been set pretty modestly over the years.
Cornerback has long been one of the softer spots for Ole Miss defenses, regardless of era. A few names have stood out - Senquez Golson, Ken Lucas and Trey Amos - but that list is short.
Pete Golding’s current secondary could end up being the most talented collection the program has put together, even if the expectation here is not that they’ll suddenly become elite. The bar, as noted, isn’t especially high.
What makes this room interesting is the way it could be helped by the front seven in front of it. These corners should have chances to feed off that pressure, whether that means coverage sacks or turning plays into takeaways.
The cornerback group includes:
- Jalyn Crawford, Jr., 6’0”, 180, Auburn
- Jaylon Braxton, Jr., 6’0”, 190
- Antonio Kite, Sr., 6’0”, 190
- Cedrick Beavers, Sr., 5’11”, 185
- Dorian Barney, Fr., 6’0”, 185
- Tavoy Feagin, So., 5’11”, 170
- Maison Dunn, rFr., 6’2”, 185
- Pat Broomfield, S0., 6’1”, 165
- Dante Core, Fr., 5’11”, 170
- Victor Lincoln Jr., Fr., 5’11”, 170
- Iverson McCoy, Fr., 5’11”, 185
- Micah Stallworth, So., 5’11”, 200
- John Ross Ashley, Jr., 5’11”, 180
- Israel Solomon, Jr., 5’9”, 175, Hawaii
Phil Steele’s projection has Jaylon Braxton as the odd man out in a standard 4-3 alignment, sitting behind Antonio Kite and Jalyn Crawford. Even so, Braxton is expected to stay heavily involved in the rotation with those two.
Beyond that top tier, the rest of the snaps should be sorted out mostly among Cedrick Beavers, Israel Solomon and possibly Sherif Denson, who is listed at safety.
The concern here is depth. That part of the room remains shaky, which makes the health of the top options especially important. There’s plenty of youth and inexperience behind them, but the names at the front of the line have a real chance to shape this defense in a big way this season.
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Ole Miss Just Sent A Big Recruiting Message In Mississippi
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Allens commitment is the second one in Ole Miss 2028 class, and it fits the broader push to keep defensive line talent flowing into Oxford over the next few cycles. With roster turnover expected down the road and several other front-line recruits already lined up for the next two seasons, the Rebels are making it clear they want depth and talent up front to stay ahead of those changes. [Read more 🡒]