One Big Red to another: Biloxi OL headlines trio of high profile MS Coast commitments
It’s been a busy offseason for Hayden Ainsworth.
The Biloxi offensive lineman left 2024 a sophomore with four Division I offers. He now enters the 2025 season a reclassified senior with more than 20 offers and, as of Monday, a verbal commitment to Nebraska.
“For the past three seasons I’ve spent Friday nights hearing the crowd say ‘Go Big Red,’” Ainsworth said in his commitment post on social media. “I still want to hear that a few more years.”
Ainsworth is an industry composite three star prospect who chose the Cornhuskers over North Carolina State after taking three official visits, including one to Liberty.
Only 16 years old, Ainsworth has offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida State and others. His reclassification puts him into a loaded class of South Mississippi prospects.
There are seven players from the Coast inside the On3 Industry’s top-40 class of 2026 Mississippi prospects and 11 inside 247sports.com’s top-70 statewide ranking.
“They just hit every box that I needed,” Ainsworth said at his commitment announcement. “Coach (Matt) Rhule is a very personable guy. He’s very down to earth. I’ve never met a head coach who I could just talk to. That’s kind of what sold it for me, was the family aspect.”
Ainsworth will anchor Biloxi’s right tackle position in his senior year.
Still a dog
Ainsworth is one of three prospects from 7A’s Coast region to announce their next home in recent days.
Ocean Springs offensive lineman Jayden Ross announced Monday his commitment to Mississippi State. Ross originally had an official visit to Tulane planned but canceled it Sunday.
The tackle holds over 20 offers and made visits to Sacramento State and MSU this month. Texas Tech, Colorado and Baylor were the competing Power Four offers.
Ross was an unranked prospect coming out of his junior season and received his first D-I offer from Appalachian State on Jan. 2. Mississippi State was an early investor, becoming his second offer shortly after.
The flurry of commitments kicked off Saturday with Gulfport’s Cooper Crosby pledging his commitment to Louisiana.
Crosby is a U.S. Army All-American who recently ran a laser-timed 4.39 40-yard dash. Louisiana was the first school to offer the Admiral tailback in March. Since then, Crosby has received offers from Arkansas State, Southeastern Louisiana and Nichols.
His commitment comes off the heels of an official visit to Louisiana. The Ragin’ Cajuns have nabbed top MS Coast products in back-to-back classes after signing Picayune running back Darrell Smith in the 2025 class.
June has been a busy month for 2026 prospects on the Coast. West Harrison’s Jazear Carter and Tre Williams both committed to Navy and Ocean Springs running back Solomon Baggett received his first D-I offer from Alabama A&M.
