OXFORD, Miss. — Now the commitment shuffle starts and even Ole Miss is not immune to the whims of high school players.
Niceville (Fla.) standout Zion Legree, a three-star wide receiver and one of Florida’s most versatile prep athletes, has officially decommitted from Lane Kiffin’s Rebels.
Legree announced his decision via social media on Saturday, creating a ripple effect in the Rebels’ 2026 recruiting class and opening the door for other powerhouse programs to pursue his talents.
BREAKING: Class of 2026 ATH Zion Legree has Decommitted from Ole Miss, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’1 200 ATH from Pensacola, FL had been Committed to the Rebels since November
He currently holds a total of 22 Offershttps://t.co/9oivL52DPw pic.twitter.com/EczDSpxmJs
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 31, 2025
Legree’s recruitment is now wide open, with offers from the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Mississippi State Bulldogs, among others.
At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Legree is a proven two-way athlete, drawing significant SEC attention for his playmaking ability on both sides of the ball.
Before his commitment to Ole Miss, Legree’s top eight schools included Georgia, Ole Miss, Miami, Missouri, Illinois, Washington, Florida, and Mississippi State, reflecting the broad national interest in his skill set.
His decommitment comes as the Rebels were building a Top-20 2026 recruiting class, which now faces a critical juncture as summer visits intensify.
“I want to thank the Ole Miss staff for believing in me, but after much thought, I have decided to reopen my recruitment,” Legree said on social media, signaling a new chapter in his journey.
Ole Miss, under Lane Kiffin, has developed a reputation for producing elite receivers, with recent alumni like Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins making the leap to the NFL, joining the ranks of DK Metcalf and A.J. Brown.
The Rebels’ offensive scheme and player development have become key selling points for recruits.
Despite Legree’s departure, the Rebels’ 2026 class remains strong, with recent commitments from four-star wide receivers Corey Barber, Jameson Powell, and previously, Legree himself.
Barber, who chose Ole Miss over Alabama, Georgia, and Miami, praised the program’s atmosphere and development:
“I started thinking about this commitment before my official visit, but when I left that, it really opened my eyes and I knew it was home from the moment I left. I like the vibes in Oxford. It’s a real chill environment, everybody treats you like family and it’s a great community,” Barber told On3.
With Legree’s spot now open, Ole Miss is ramping up efforts to secure other top receiver targets.
Leakesville (Miss.) Greene County’s Jase Mathews, a four-star wideout and Top-5 receiver nationally, is currently on an official visit to Oxford.
Mathews is coming off a dominant junior season, recording 68 catches for 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s also considering Auburn, Texas A&M, and LSU, recently swapping a Miami visit for a trip to Baton Rouge.
Other notable prospects visiting Oxford include four-star tight end Carson Sneed and linebacker JaMichael Garrett, as Kiffin and his staff look to solidify a class that remains in the national Top 20.
Legree’s decommitment is a setback, but not a fatal blow for Ole Miss.
The Rebels’ track record of developing NFL-caliber receivers and their aggressive summer recruiting push keep them in strong position for the 2026 cycle.
With summer visits underway and multiple blue-chip prospects on campus, Lane Kiffin’s staff is recalibrating and aiming to finish the summer with a reinforced receiver group.
