One of the premier trench prospects in the 2028 cycle is beginning to take shape nationally, and Ole Miss is firmly in the conversation early for towering Alabama offensive tackle Samuel Bailey out of Mae Jemison High School.
The 6-foot-6, 290-pound four-star prospect is already viewed as one of the foundational offensive line prospects in the country — ranked No. 58 overall nationally, the No. 7 offensive tackle in America,
and the No. 4 player in Alabama. But despite the growing SEC attention, Bailey is keeping the process wide open as programs continue to flood in with offers and attention.
“Right now I really don’t got no exact favorites or no school just standing out yet,” Bailey told Ole Miss 365. “My recruitment still wide open and I’m showing love to everybody that’s showing love to me.”
That openness is exactly why Ole Miss continues to stay aggressive in building relationships early. Pete Golding’s presence around the program and the culture being built in Oxford have made a strong impression on Bailey as Ole Miss continues pushing to strengthen ties with elite prospects across the Southeast.
“My recruitment with them has been very solid,” Bailey said. “I love what they got going on over there and I’m definitely trying to get back down there soon to keep building that relationship with the coaches.”
The Rebels have quietly become one of the more intriguing developmental programs in the SEC, particularly with the way Ole Miss has blended physicality, player development, and an NFL-minded approach across the roster. Bailey fits the mold Ole Miss covets — long-framed, athletic edge protectors with positional versatility and violent upside in the run game.
What stands out most in Bailey’s comments is how heavily culture and coaching matter in his process. That combination continues to be one of Ole Miss’ strongest recruiting selling points, especially for prospects across the Deep South.
“I’m looking for a place that feels like home with tough love and great coaching,” Bailey said. “I’m seeing a lot of that over in the Sip, so that got me excited about everything.”
This summer could become a major evaluation stretch in Bailey’s recruitment. Instead of traditional spring visits, the elite Alabama prospect plans to hit multiple powerhouse camps across the country, giving him a firsthand look at coaching staffs and developmental environments.
“No more spring visits for me right now, just camps at schools that offered me like the University of Georgia, the University of Alabama, the University of Mississippi, the University of Florida, Ohio State University, and more,” Bailey explained. “I’m trying to hit as many as possible so I can see what it’s really like getting coached at the next level. Definitely looking forward to them camp days.”
From an evaluation standpoint, Bailey already flashes elite tackle traits. His frame immediately jumps out on film with rare length and natural mass for a rising sophomore prospect. He moves comfortably in space, plays with balance in pass protection and shows the kind of foot quickness SEC programs prioritize for edge protection against elite speed rushers. There’s still developmental room physically, but the ceiling is obvious — especially once he fully grows into his frame and refines hand placement consistency.
And while recruiting rankings and camp circuits are now becoming part of daily life, Bailey still keeps himself grounded the same way many elite athletes do — through music and mentality.
“Dreams and Nightmares always one of my go to songs before practice or games,” Bailey said. “It just help me lock in and get my mind right, especially when he says ‘It’s time to marry the game and I said yeah I do.’ That line really hit me because I feel like I’m giving everything I got to the game so I can perform at my best. Definitely a song I keep on repeat before I hit the field.”
That mentality shows up on tape.
Bailey plays with the edge, competitiveness and physical demeanor coaches covet at the next level — and as Ole Miss continues trying to stack SEC-caliber offensive line talent in future classes, the Rebels appear determined to remain heavily involved in one of Alabama’s premier young prospects.
Herring’s Take:
This feels like a recruitment Ole Miss absolutely has to stay involved in from start to finish. Bailey checks every SEC tackle box physically, but more importantly, he consistently talks about relationships, culture and development — areas where Ole Miss has quietly elevated itself nationally. The Rebels are battling bluebloods here, but the early connection with “the Sip” is very real.