Ole Miss DC insists freshman edge will be a household name: ‘Write that down’
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Ole Miss defensive coordinator Bryan Brown is very excited about a certain freshman along the Rebels’ defensive line.
The player in question is Landon Barnes, the top defensive signee of Ole Miss’s 2026 recruiting class. The 4-star edge rusher out of Duncanville High School in Texas is already turning a few heads in Rebels spring practice, and Brown insisted Friday that he is going to be a household name. “You can write that down,” Brown told reporters.
Barnes is the No. 116 overall prospect in the Class of 2026 according to 247Sports. He stands at 6-4, 240 pounds and held offers from just about every major program in the country, including Ohio State, LSU, Texas… you get the picture.
Ole Miss is looking to replace the productivity of Princewell Umanmielen, who followed head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU. The former Rebel totaled 10.5 sacks in 2026. Kam Franklin, who totaled 5 sacks in 2025, is set to return for Ole Miss this season.
Of course, there’s no reason to believe Barnes can’t make an immediate impact considering Brown’s genuine praise. There are a few names he’ll be competing with from Ole Miss’s haul out of the transfer portal so far this offseason, including former Oregon edge Blake Purchase and former Alabama DL Jordan Renaud.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
