The Ole Miss Rebels are making waves in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Lane Kiffin has his sights set on a prized quarterback. Landon Duckworth, a four-star talent, is returning to Oxford this week. This visit could be a game-changer for the program.
Lane Kiffin Has His Eyes Locked on Elite QB Landon Duckworth
Landon Duckworth stands tall at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. He’s ranked as the No. 6 quarterback in the nation. His junior season at Jackson High in Alabama was no less than impressive.
Elite 2026 QB Landon Duckworth is set to return to Ole Miss on Thursday, he tells @Rivals
Duckworth is the top QB target on Lane Kiffin and the Rebels’ board in this cycle 🦈 https://t.co/aFcaq1EMDz @NealMcCready pic.twitter.com/91fntOv6rY
— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) March 26, 2025
He threw for 3,109 yards and 34 touchdowns. On the ground, he added 631 yards and 12 scores. That performance led his team to a state championship in 2024. Over three seasons, he’s racked up more than 6,400 total yards and 80 touchdowns. This performance made him brought him to the center of many programs’ radars.
Duckworth stepped away from a South Carolina commitment last summer. Since then, his recruitment has become quite busy. He’s scheduled four official visits for this summer. Georgia kicks things off on May 30. South Carolina follows on June 6.
Florida State gets him on June 13. Ole Miss wraps it up on June 20. Kiffin’s Rebels get the final shot to impress. “There are some other schools I am looking at, but Ole Miss, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida State are the main schools I am focused on right now,” Duckworth said recently. “All of those are talking to me a lot, they want me to visit in the spring, and I am planning to take official visits to all four.”
This Thursday’s trip to Ole Miss isn’t an official visit. It’s an early chance for Kiffin to build momentum. The Rebels are already in a strong spot. Sources say Ole Miss is pulling ahead in the race. Duckworth has hinted at it, too. He’s told recruiters he’s seriously considering the program.
“If I am ready to commit before the season, I want to, but if not, I will wait,” Duckworth explained. He values a school’s atmosphere and coaching staff. The offensive system matters, too. So does the track record of player development. Ole Miss checks those boxes for him.
Kiffin isn’t slowing down. The Rebels already have two 2026 commits: wide receiver Jameson Powell and athlete Zion Legree. Both are three-star prospects. Adding Duckworth would boost the team to new heights. It’s a critical move as Ole Miss builds for the future.
Meanwhile, Florida State is feeling the heat. The Seminoles went 2-10 in 2024. Their quarterback struggles are very apparent. With Duckworth leaning toward Ole Miss, they’re shifting focus to another four-star, Bowe Bentley. Competition is fierce there, too.
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Georgia, LSU, and Oklahoma are in the mix. For Ole Miss, Thursday’s visit could seal the deal with Duckworth. Kiffin’s aggressive recruiting might just pay off.
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