Ole Miss trending for 2025 4-star RB Akylin Dear

Ole Miss is trending for Quitman (Miss.) 2025 four-star running back Akylin Dear, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Rebels recruiting insider Zach Berry logged an expert prediction with a 65% confidence level for Ole Miss to land Dear. The Rebels now lead in the RPM at 96%.

Dear was visited by Ole Miss coaches at the end of January and met Lane Kiffin for the first time. Tight ends coach Kelvin Bolden also joined Kiffin on the trip.

“That was great,” Dear told OM Spirit. “They came and saw me. It was my first time to actually see (Lane) Kiffin. It was pretty cool. I like him.”

Dear told On3 that he plans to trim his list to five or 10 teams in March. With Kiffin’s message to Dear, it’s expected that the Rebels will be on that list.

“He told me I’m very important,” Dear said. “He told me I’m his top choice.”

Ole Miss’ 2025 class currently holds a commitment from one recruit: Opelousas (La.) four-star linebacker Corey Amos. Amos joined the class this weekend.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Dear is the nation’s No. 148 overall prospect and No. 10 running back in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 4 recruit in Mississippi.

More on Ole Miss recruiting

Ole Miss put together an impressive recruiting class in the 2024 cycle. The Rebels signed 21 prospects, resulting in the No. 20 class in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Headlining the class is Lake Cormorant (Miss.) four-star defensive lineman Kamarion Franklin, the No. 81 overall prospect and No. 10 DL in the On3 Industry Ranking. He is one of four four-star prospects headed to Oxford.

“The opportunity to put on for my home state and put my state on notice,” Franklin told On3 upon his commitment to Ole Miss. “The relationships I have developed at Ole Miss is also what led to this decision. My ability to impact my state is major and I’m ready to put on for it!”

The class also includes the top-ranked JUCO prospect in the nation’s No. 1 wide receiver Deion Smith. He’s joined at the top of the class by Houston (Miss.) four-star interior offensive lineman William Echoles and Taylorsville (Miss.) top-10 JUCO CB Cedrick Beavers.

“After grabbing 48 receptions for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns in junior college, he has solidified himself as a bonafide dude,” Ole Miss insider Zach Berry wrote of Smith. “Kiffin and Kelvin Bolden have all believed he was capable of stepping right in and being the guy for Ole Miss. Now, he will get his chance to prove them all right next season.”