By Kyle Coppola
Tavares High School Junior Izayia Williams Commits to Ole Miss
TAVARES, Fla. — Tavares High School junior edge rusher Izayia Williams has verbally committed to the University of Mississippi, giving Ole Miss a major boost in its 2026 recruiting class with one of the top defensive prospects in the country.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound standout edge rusher announced his decision on social media, flipping from a previous commitment to Florida State and most recently University of Florida choosing the Rebels over a host of Power Five offers. Known for his relentless motor and explosive athleticism, Williams has emerged as a dominant force on the high school football scene in Central Florida and is the top edge rusher in the country.
(Williams is among the top athletes to come through Tavares High. He is an incredible athlete and has proven to the world why he is the #1 Edge Rusher in the country.)
In March, Williams had indicated that his recruitment was 100% shut down, but recent visits have flipped his decision for the fifth time.
As a junior, Williams delivered a monster season for the Tavares Bulldogs, racking up 125 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and four sacks. His speed off the edge and disruptive playmaking ability routinely gave opposing quarterbacks fits.
“Izayia is a game-changer,” said Tavares head coach Gavin Jones. “He’s got the ability to take over a game. He’s a player that is going to make an impact.”
(Williams commitment to Ole Miss is a huge pickup for Lane Kiffin. This is a huge signing for the program.)
Williams, who played his sophomore season at Leesburg High School, is widely considered one of the most talented players to come through Tavares High in recent memory. His commitment is a significant win for Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff, who have focused on adding dynamic, high-upside defenders to compete in the ever-competitive SEC.
With his recruitment now settled, Williams will turn his attention to his senior season, aiming to lead Tavares to new heights before making the jump to the college ranks.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
