Ole Miss Football Loses Promising Defensive Back to Transfer Portal Amid Rebuild

Pete Golding and Co. continue rebuilding the roster, multiple newcomers heading to town this offseason.

Courtesy of Travaris Banks on Instagram.

Ole Miss Rebels defensive back Travaris Banks intends to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after spending two seasons with the program in Oxford, he revealed via social media on Monday.

Banks signed with the program as a four-star recruit in the 2024 Recruiting Cycle after pledging to the Rebels over the Mississippi State Bulldogs down the stretch of his process.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Alabama native spent two seasons with the Rebels where he had the best year of his career so far in 2025.

Banks tallied 20 tackles and a pass breakup across 10 games with the Rebels amid a historic season for the program - logging five tackles across Ole Miss’ three games in the College Football Playoff.

Now, after redshirting in his true freshman campaign in 2024, Banks will depart the program with three seasons of eligibility in search of a new home as the program reconstructs the roster in Oxford.

BREAKING: Ole Miss Safety TJ Banks is entering the Transfer Portal, he tells me.

The 6’1”, 190 lb S totaled 24 Tackles (11 Solo) & 1 PBU the past two seasons with the Rebels.

Former 4-Star & Top 150 Recruit in the 2024 Class will have 2 years of eligibility remaining. pic.twitter.com/Q5Ns3s08os

— JGPCFB (@jgpvisuals) January 12, 2026

The Departures [15]:

RB Domonique Thomas
QB Austin Simmons (signed with Missouri)
OL PJ Wilkins (Committed to Wisconsin)
WR Winston Watkins, Jr. (Committed to LSU)
LB Jaden Yates (Committed to Houston)
CB Ricky Fletcher
CB Chris Graves
CB Ethan Fields
OL Jude Foster
OL Delano Townsend
EDGE Corey Amos
S TJ Banks
OL Devin Harper
DL Jeffery Rush
S Anthony Robinson III

The Additions [13]:

Jay Crawford – Auburn (CB)
Keaton Thomas – Baylor (LB)
Jonathan Maldonado – Nevada (EDGE)
Sharif Denson – Florida (CB)
Jaheim Oatis – Colorado (DT)
Michai Boireau – Florida (DT)
Carius Curne – LSU (OL)
Edwin Joseph – Florida State (S)
Brady Prieskorn – Michigan (TE)
Deuce Knight – Auburn (QB)
Cameron Miller – Kentucky (WR)
JT Lindsey – LSU (RB)
Troy Everett - Oklahoma (OL)

Courtesy of Ole Miss Rebels Football.

There are also players that are set to return next fall - including the program's franchise running back in Kewan Lacy - an All-American selection in 2025 after re-signing with the Rebels.

“You see what Kewan is made of, what this team is made of,” Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro told On3 Sports following the season-ending loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

“It’s the reason so many guys are going to be back next year. We’re going to build on this.”

The Ole Miss star running back was one of the best rushers in the nation all season long for the 13-2 Rebels - holding a season line of 306 attempts for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns.

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