Portal Pete strikes again this Sunday morning, and the hot streak continues for the Rebels. Ole Miss has secured a commitment from former Nevada defensive end Jonathan Maldonado. The 6-foot-6, 233-pound native of Monrovia, California, becomes the third addition to Ole Miss’s defensive unit in just 24 hours.
In an exclusive conversation with Ole Miss 365 following his announcement, Maldonado explained his decision to join the Rebels: “People, place, and possibility of being a champion. That’s why!”
He also highlighted what impressed him about Pete Golding during his recruitment: “Authenticity. The layout and vision in the building are contagious because of his energy!”
Maldonado was scheduled to visit Texas A&M from January 5th to 6th but confirmed with OleMiss365 that he will no longer be heading to College Station for that visit.
During his time with the Wolfpack, Maldonado recorded a total of 64 tackles and two interceptions, including a pick-six last season. In his final year at Nevada, he notched 38 tackles, five sacks, and one interception, and applied pressure on quarterbacks 44 times while earning an elite pass rush grade of 85.8 from PFF and All-Mountain West honors. He will have one year of eligibility remaining as he joins the Rebels.
The Rebels have a knack for identifying hidden hybrid athletes, and Maldonado certainly fits that mold—long before he stepped onto a college field. His prowess as a nightmare for quarterbacks stems from his high school experience as both a quarterback and defensive end at Arcadia High School. Over two varsity seasons, he played in 13 games as a two-way player; as a quarterback, he completed 127 of 224 passes for 1,811 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for an impressive 512 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground—earning second-team all-league honors. On defense, he made 42 tackles with 12 tackles for loss (TFL) and five sacks.
In my quick assessment of Maldonado, there is indeed significant potential due to his strong pass-rushing ability combined with length and quickness that promise an immediate impact on the field. Despite not being heavily recruited out of high school, his grit and talent consistently shone through during pivotal moments at Nevada. His background as a quarterback uniquely positions him to excel in the SEC; few defensive ends transition from being starting quarterbacks like he did. This distinctive experience will prove advantageous; after all, it’s rare to find defensive ends capable of reading option pass attempts or dropping into coverage—but Maldonado has demonstrated these skills multiple times throughout his college career.His keen sense of play recognition allows him to position himself effectively to make impactful plays.
With Jonathan Maldonado joining their ranks, the Rebels have once again added another gritty and athletic defensive talent!