Top Alabama HS receiver commits to Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss

One of the top rising seniors in the state of Alabama has committed to Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss.

Spain Park’s Corey Barber, a 4-star wide receiver, chose the Rebels over Alabama, Miami and a host of others.

The 6-1, 182-pound Barber is rated as the No. 13 prospect in Alabama, according to the 247 composite rankings.

“First off God is so good,” Barber told AL.com. “I chose Ole Miss based on how well I think I would fit their offensive scheme and their genuine interest in me as a player. Since the first day they offered me, coach (George) McDonald and the staff have continued to show me I’m a priority. Receivers do well at Ole Miss, and it’s a very explosive offense. I believe they finished as one of the top offenses in the country. On top of that, coach Kiffin is great and coach (Charlie) Weis (Jr.) is a great offensive coordinator as well. All in all, they made me feel at home.”

Barber is coming off a junior season where he caught 74 passes for 1,429 yards and 18 touchdowns for coach Tim Vakakes. He finished with 1,622 all-purpose yards and was one of three finalists for Class 6A Back of the Year.

“He’s a Day 1 contributor,” Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes said of Barber. “No doubt. He has the frame. He has the work ethic. He has everything you need to play right now. No matter where he decided to go, he was going to play early. He loved Ole Miss, and they showed him a lot of love.”

Barber is part of a strong 2026 class of wide receivers in the state, which also includes Benjamin Russell’s Cederian Morgan, Jackson’s Keeyun Chapman, Booker T. Washington’s Marquez Daniel, Saraland’s DeShawn Spencer, Carver-Montgomery’s Zion Crumpton, St. Michael’s Brody Jones and Tucker Tomlinson and Hoover’s Jonah Winston.

“Obviously, he’s a very talented kid,” Vakakes said. “The thing that separates him is he is made of the right stuff. He knows what it is important, and he keeps the main thing the main thing. Corey embraces being a good teammate. He’s someone other kids look up to.

“He can’t go anywhere without someone wanting an autograph or a picture. He understands the fact that he has been blessed with a lot of God given ability but also understands his importance in our community. He’s special.”