What is Ole Miss Getting in Running Back Akylin Dear's Commitment?

How big is Akylin Dear's commitment for the Ole Miss Rebels?

Akylin Dear / Ole Miss Athletics - Akylin Dear on X

The Ole Miss Rebels gained an Easter-weekend commitment from in-state running back Akylin Dear on Saturday afternoon, marking their second commitment of the 2025 class in a big way.

Dear, a four-star out of Quitman (Miss.) High School, is rated as the No. 2 running back nationally, per On3, as well as the No. 2 player in the state of Mississippi for 2025. In their rankings, he is also listed as the No. 34 player nationally, marking a big splash for the future of Lane Kiffin's offense.

Dear visited Ole Miss on March 28, and the Rebels had been on his trail throughout his recruitment process. He announced his commitment on social media, a post you can view here.

The running back accumulated over 2,000 rushing yardsin his 2023 season, and he is poised for another strong campaign as a senior this fall. He also earned second-team All-State honors last season and has accepted an invite to participate in the 2025 Under Armour All-America game, but what level of talent is Ole Miss receiving once the back steps on campus?

In short, it's a pretty complete package.

In his junior season highlights, Dear shows off his ability to not only find rushing lanes, but hit them with breakneck speed, leaving opposing defenders in the dust. 247Sports recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna put it in his own words when describing Dear's level of play.

"A tough, muscled-up frame," Petagna said. "I think he can have an immediate impact and add to the room from day one. Obviously (Quinshon) Judkins is a difficult player to compare to as a freshman with what he did, but feel this kid could add a valuable impact to the running room."

Ole Miss is still potentially in the market for a running back for the 2024 season via the transfer portal, but Dear's addition to the roster in 2025 should provide a huge (and immediate) spark for a Rebel offense that has put an emphasis on the ground game since Lane Kiffin's arrival in Oxford. The Rebels have led the SEC in rushing at times under Kiffin, and Dear's skillset will likely help balance an offense that will feature a new quarterback next fall after the departure of Jaxson Dart.

In the 2023 season, Dear helped lead his Quitman Panthers to an 8-3 overall record in a 4-0 mark in Mississippi's Region 5-4A. Another year of high school ball will only help the back improve his speed, agility and between-the-tackles rushing ability, but this is a commitment that Ole Miss fans should be excited about.

It's not always easy to find a running back that offers as much as Dear does, much less one that comes from the school's home state.