Two of the top wide receiver recruits in the country have reopened their recruitments just days before the Early Signing Period - and the timing couldn’t be more telling. With Lane Kiffin stepping away from the Ole Miss program, the Rebels have now lost commitments from two of their most highly touted pass-catching prospects: Jameson Powell and Corey Barber.
Let’s start with Powell, the dynamic four-star wideout out of Folsom High School in Sacramento, California. He announced Monday that he's decommitting from Ole Miss, a move that comes on the heels of Kiffin’s departure.
Powell, listed at 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, is one of the more explosive playmakers in the 2025 class. He’s currently ranked among the top 100 wide receivers in the nation - and for good reason.
Powell burst onto the scene as a sophomore, hauling in 86 receptions for 1,231 yards and 14 touchdowns. That kind of production turned heads quickly, and he followed it up with another impressive campaign in 2024: 65 catches, 1,020 yards, and 17 touchdowns.
He’s not just a stat-sheet filler - he’s a technician with elite quickness, strong hands, and a knack for finding open space. Coaches love his football IQ and route-running polish, which made him a prized target for programs across the country.
Originally, Powell chose Ole Miss over offers from Oregon, Arkansas, Colorado, and Arizona, among others. At the time of his commitment, he emphasized the importance of a strong, family-oriented connection with the coaching staff - not just with the head coach, but also with the offensive coordinator, position coach, and even the strength staff. That level of relationship-building mattered deeply to him.
“I loved Ole Miss, they showed me a lot and told me a lot about the program I did not know,” Powell said after his commitment. “I talked with Lane Kiffin, the offensive coordinator, and wide receivers coach a lot - they’re all good people.”
He also mentioned frequent conversations with wide receivers coach George McDonald, who focused on Powell’s long-term development - not just as a college player, but as someone preparing for a future beyond the NCAA. That message clearly resonated. But with the coaching situation now in flux, Powell has decided to reassess his options, and he’ll do so with no shortage of interest as signing day draws near.
He’s not the only one.
Corey Barber, a four-star receiver from Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama, also announced that he's backing off his commitment to Ole Miss. Barber, a Top-50 wideout in the 2026 cycle, had pledged to the Rebels back in May, choosing them over a loaded list of suitors that included Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
BREAKING: Class of 2026 WR Jameson Powell has Decommitted from Ole Miss, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 5’11 175 WR had been Committed to the Rebels since January
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 1, 2025
He currently holds a total of 23 offershttps://t.co/n6ksJZ2ru2 pic.twitter.com/RKf4Gi9j2d
At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Barber brings a different kind of skill set to the field - a blend of size, strength, and vertical ability that makes him a matchup nightmare on the outside. He’s the kind of receiver who can win at the catch point, stretch the field, and bully smaller corners in the red zone. His recruitment was always going to be competitive, but Ole Miss had managed to separate itself early thanks to the relationships Barber built with the staff.
“I’m comfortable there,” Barber said at the time of his commitment. “They treat me and my family like family. I’ve been to practice, plus an official visit - I’ve spent more time at Ole Miss than the others.”
He praised the coaching staff’s experience and the support from the Oxford community, calling it a “great program” with the kind of environment he wanted to be part of. But like Powell, Barber’s decision to decommit signals that the changes in leadership have shifted the foundation he once felt secure in.
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
Now, both Powell and Barber are back on the market - and with the Early Signing Period just around the corner, the timing couldn’t be more critical. These are two elite-level prospects with national-level attention, and their decisions in the coming weeks will be closely watched across the college football landscape.
For Ole Miss, losing two top-tier receivers in a matter of days is a significant blow to their 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes. But for Powell and Barber, this is about more than just football - it’s about fit, trust, and the relationships that help shape a college career. With the coaching carousel in full swing, expect more moves like this across the country as recruits weigh their futures with a sharper eye than ever.