Ole Miss is making a late, aggressive push to pry one of Louisiana’s most explosive playmakers away from a trio of heavy hitters — and the Rebels might be gaining ground.
Javon Vital Jr., the Lake Charles College Prep star who has piled up video‑game numbers for three straight seasons, trimmed his list to LSU, Southern Cal, and Houston earlier this winter.
On paper, that should have shut the door on any latecomer. Instead, Ole Miss has kicked it open.
Frank Wilson, hired last month and already operating at full throttle, has turned Vital into a priority target. The former LSU assistant knows exactly how hard it is to steal a blue‑chip back out of the Pelican State, but he also knows what a difference-maker looks like and he’s treating Vital like one.
After an in-person visit and an offer extended two weeks ago, the Rebels have surged back into the race, with Rivals reporting that Ole Miss is “ascending” in his recruitment.
Ole Miss officially offered today. Proud to stand with @FrankWilson28 and my mom Stacey Jones. @OleMissFB @DexterWashing19 pic.twitter.com/NWdpyU8zbn
— Javon “MAN” Vital Jr. (@JavonVital2027) January 21, 2026
That climb comes at a moment when Vital’s recruitment is suddenly wide open again.
He once planned to commit last fall but hit pause, and now the process has reset. Houston will host him for an official visit on June 4, pitching him as an early-impact wide receiver.
LSU and USC remain firmly in the picture. But Ole Miss is selling something different: the chance to be a centerpiece in Oxford from day one.
Wilson and new head coach Pete Golding are pushing hard in Louisiana, and Vital has been receptive. His production explains why.
As a sophomore, he racked up more than 3,000 all-purpose yards and 46 touchdowns. As a junior, he somehow topped it — over 3,500 all-purpose yards, including 1,500 rushing, 1,100 receiving, and 49 total scores.
Few players in the 2027 class touch the ball more or do more with it.
That’s the kind of versatility Ole Miss believes can reshape its offense. That’s the kind of player Wilson has built his reputation on landing. And that’s the kind of recruitment the Rebels haven’t backed down from under Lane Kiffin.
Vital may still list three finalists. But Ole Miss is acting like a fourth contender with no intention of staying on the outside.
The Rebels are pushing, Louisiana ties be damned, and Vital’s growing interest suggests they’re not chasing a lost cause — they’re chasing a steal.
