Taking a closer look at Ole Miss' 2026 transfer portal class

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Coming off its winningest season in program history, head coach Pete Golding and Ole Miss have reloaded via the transfer portal with 29 new commits. The Rebels (13-2) are still awaiting to learn senior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ fate, as the 2025 eighth-place Heisman Trophy finisher is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.

Regardless of what happens in Chambliss’ case, here is a look at the Rebels’ transfer portal haul and positional strengths and weaknesses based on returning production. Information is based off 247Sports' transfer portal and recruiting databases. Ole Miss currently has the No. 2 portal class in the country, per 247Sports.

Strengths

Running back

Ole Miss received a major lift when it was announced that star running back Kewan Lacy re-signed with the Rebels amid alleged interest from other programs had he ventured into the transfer portal. The All-American ran for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025, tying the single-season school record in rushing yards while setting the touchdown mark. Experienced depth in the backfield outside of Lacy appeared to be lacking, however, as Logan Diggs has no eligibility remaining and redshirt freshman Shekai Mills-Knight logged just eight carries this season.

The Rebels received commitments from former Michigan State running back Makhi Frazier, former Southern Utah running back Joshua Dye and former LSU running back JT Lindsey. Frazier ran for 520 yards and a pair of touchdowns last year with the Spartans, while Dye was an FCS All-American after running for 1,831 yards and 28 touchdowns with the Thunderbirds. Lindsey was a highly touted member of LSU’s 2025 recruiting class but did not play last season.

Given the talented members of its backfield, Ole Miss’ running game figures to be as strong as ever in 2026.

Wide receiver

Losing five of your top six receivers from the previous year is never a good thing. Losing two of them – Cayden Lee and Winston Watkins – to fellow SEC programs in the transfer portal is a tough pill to swallow, too. But Ole Miss returns Deuce Alexander, who caught 44 passes for 684 yards as a sophomore, and Class of 2025 five-star recruit Caleb Cunningham. Ole Miss added former Syracuse wideout Darrell Gill Jr., a four-star transfer who caught 32 passes for 506 yards and five touchdowns last season. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder has 70 catches for 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns in his career. Ole Miss also added Gill’s Syracuse teammate, Johntay Cook II. Cook, a five-star recruit in 2023 who originally signed with Texas, caught a career-high 45 passes for 549 yards and two touchdowns in his first season with the Orange.

Ole Miss also received transfer portal commitments from Auburn’s Horatio Fields, Kentucky’s Cameron Miller and Virgina Tech’s Isaiah Spencer.

Defensive line

Losing Princewill Umanmielen, who led the Rebels with nine sacks last season, to LSU was brutal. But the returns of stalwarts like Kam Franklin and Will Echoles help ease that loss up front, as do the additions of four-star transfers Michai Boireau (Florida), Blake Purchase (Oregon) and Jordan Renaud (Alabama). Ole Miss also added Jehiem Oatis, a Columbia, Mississippi native who began his career at Alabama as a top-100 recruit. Finding someone to replace Umanmielen’s pass-rush prowess is paramount, but Golding has added the bodies to do so.

Concerns

Linebacker (sort of)

Leading tackler TJ Dottery transferred to LSU, while Jaden Yates (55 tackles in 2025) transferred to Houston. Ole Miss added a trio of three-star linebacker transfers in Luke Ferrelli (Cal), Tah’j Butler (Georgia Tech) and Keaton Thomas (Baylor). Ferrelli was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year after racking up 91 tackles in 2025. Thomas has made 219 total tackles over the last two seasons with the Bears. Ole Miss also returns Suntarine Perkins.

The Rebels have added experienced, productive pieces in its linebacker room, but losing a defensive captain like Dottery is never easy. The additions figure to play well, but a leadership loss isn’t always overcome overnight.

Offensive tackle

Ole Miss returns its interior trio of Brycen Sanders at center and guards Patrick Kutas and Delano Townsend. Stalwart tackles Diego Pounds and Jayden Williams, however, are gone. Pounds did not allow a sack last season while Williams allowed two, according to Pro Football Focus. Ole Miss added LSU’s Carius Curne, a four-star transfer who allowed three sacks in eight games (five starts) as a true freshman, per PFF. The Rebels also added Miami’s Tommy Kinsler IV, though he did not start any games with the Hurricanes, and Florida’s Enoch Wangoy (no career-appearances). In theory, Curne locks up one of those tackle spots. Who takes over on the opposite side, however, is worth following. Is it a recent addition or a returner?

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