Ole Miss Football Targets Top Safety Recruit from Florida

Three-star safety John Gay III schedules official visit to Ole Miss as Rebels ramp up pursuit.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:35pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football player in motion, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue and red, conveying the energy and intensity of the recruiting process.An abstract illustration captures the dynamic movement and intensity of a top defensive back prospect as he evaluates his college options.Oxford Today

Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna three-star safety John Gay III has locked in an official visit with the Ole Miss Rebels coaching staff as they intensify their pursuit of the talented defensive back in the 2027 recruiting cycle. Gay III holds offers from several top programs, including Minnesota, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and others, but Ole Miss is emerging as a contender after his recent unofficial visit to Oxford.

Why it matters

Securing commitments from top defensive prospects like Gay III is crucial for Ole Miss as they look to build on the momentum of their recent recruiting success and continue improving their roster under new head coach Pete Golding.

The details

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound safety had a standout junior season in 2025, recording nearly 40 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups, and an interception. Gay III will return to Oxford for an official visit on June 15-17, where he'll be joined by multiple other priority targets for the Rebels in the 2027 class.

  • Gay III visited Ole Miss's campus unofficially in March 2026.
  • Gay III will take his official visit to Ole Miss on June 15-17, 2026.

The players

John Gay III

A three-star safety prospect from Hollywood, Florida who is ranked as a Top-100 safety in the 2027 recruiting class.

Pete Golding

The head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels football team, who is leading the charge in recruiting Gay III to Oxford.

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What they’re saying

“HAD A AMAZING DAY IN OXFORD TODAY #HoddyToddy🦈”

— John Gay III, Recruit

“LOCKED IN #HOTTYTODDY🦈”

— John Gay III, Recruit

What’s next

Gay III will take his official visit to Ole Miss on June 15-17, 2026, where he'll be joined by other top targets for the Rebels in the 2027 recruiting class.

The takeaway

Ole Miss is making a strong push to land one of the top defensive back prospects in Florida, John Gay III, as they look to continue building momentum on the recruiting trail under new head coach Pete Golding.