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Kelvin Bolden Bolts for LSU: Ole Miss recruiting dynamo joins SEC rival

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett07/08/25SpiritBen
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Ole Miss ace recruiter Kelvin Bolden and Kamarion Franklin

Kelvin Bolden is leaving Ole Miss football to join rival LSU, Bolden confirmed to the Ole Miss Spirit via text message Monday night.

Bolden was Ole Miss’ Coordinator of Recruiting Strategy. He served as the Rebels’ primary in-state recruiter, responsible for such prospects as 2026 4-stars Emanuel Tucker (New Albany) and Jase Mathews (Green County). 

Tucker committed to LSU over Ole Miss last month. Ole Miss and LSU are finalists for Mathews, though the Tigers seem to have the current edge.

Sources indicate Bolden wanted the Director of Player Personnel job currently held by Alex Brown. Sixth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin declined. Bolden is becoming the Senior Associate AD/Assistant GM for the Tigers.

Bolden reunites with former Ole Miss General Manager Austin Thomas in Red Stick. Thomas is the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Football Administration at LSU.

On3 in February named both Brown and Bolden as two of college football’s ‘off-field recruiting stars’ of the 2025 cycle. Billy Glasscock took over for Thomas as Ole Miss GM.

“Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin brought in Billy Glasscock as his [NFL style] General Manager to oversee everything in the program from recruiting, scouting, NIL and coaching staff,” On3’s Steve Wiltfong wrote. “He’s an industry veteran that shined at Minnesota and Texas prior. Director of Player Personnel Alex Brown wears a lot of hats as well. Mike Williams runs the scouting department and has 15 years of NFL experience. 

“Coordinator of Recruiting Strategy Kelvin Bolden is one of the SEC’s best relationship guys. The Rebels signed On3’s No. 19 class.”

Bolden is an in-state product formerly of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Southern Miss.

He’s an MGCCC Hall of Famer and left ranked as the No. 6 wide receiver in the nation. He was Top 50 nationally. Bolden was second-team All-CUSA at Southern Miss in 2010 and 2011. He finished with 104 receptions, 1,393 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Bolden rushed for another score. 

Bolden landed with the NFL’s Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent and played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. His other coaching stops include Florida.

Ole Miss last season won 10 games for the third in four years. The Rebels open the 2025-26 campaign against Georgia State on August 30. Candidates to replace Bolden aren’t immediately clear.

“[Ole Miss] has been the best place I’ve ever worked — by far,” Glasscock said during a Reb Talk show last fall. “This is the best place I’ve been because you feel the people every day. Other places I’ve been they like to pat you on the back and say, ‘Ain’t it great to work here? Isn’t it so great to work here? You have all these bells and whistles.’ Here it it is, ‘We’re so glad that you’re here.’”

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