Ole Miss Rebels Sending A Message To SEC With Impressive Transfer Portal Haul
No more "dark horse" talk.
No more "under the radar" chatter.
Lane Kiffin is tired of that type of nonsense surrounding his program. It's either "good" or "great" from here on out in Oxford.
Ole Miss might not walk away with the perfect recruiting class once the Early Signing Period passes on Wednesday. The Rebels could miss out on a four-star signal-caller who flips at the last second, or a five-star receiver who lands elsewhere after careful consideration.
On the transfer portal side of things? It will be hard to imagine anyone surpassing the Rebels following this weekend's overhaul. One name would be a difference-maker, but how about three?
A top edge rusher who could conjure up more pressure blitzes? Check that box with Florida’s Princely Umanmielen joining The Sip.
A secondary pass rusher to rotate off the edge? Check again with Tennessee's Tyler Baron.
A solidified receiver to strengthen an already promising pass-catcher room? Another need solved with South Carolina's Juice Wells joining the mix.
And what's crazy? Ole Miss isn't done yet. Not by a long shot.
Kiffin is building a program that wins with physicality and finesse. The latter has been there with the type of talent the Rebels have landed in the portal over the previous three seasons.
Now comes the physical part. It's what separates programs like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU apart from others in the SEC. Ole Miss seems poised to leave the others behind and upgrade to the adult's table soon.
Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (left) talks with Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) during a time out during the first half against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Pass rushers like Umanmielen and Baron often don't consider a place like Oxford home. It's why the Rebels have flirted with top-10 status but have never been able to sustain it by the time bowl season comes around.
Expect that and the 48th-ranked pass-rushing unit to change. Both players should close the gap and eliminate the run on early downs, forcing an opponent's offense to become one-dimensional.
And the Rebels aren't done. Former Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen is visiting campus over the weekend. After Umanmielen and Baron committed, the former No. 1 defensive recruit could be next.
Adding Nolen not only strengthens the pass rush but also the run blocking. Ole Miss allowed opponents to average 3.9 yards per attempt last season. With Nolen leading the charge, the Aggies held opponents to almost 3.2 yards per play.
Now imagine that in Oxford next to Jared Ivey or J.J. Pegues. Imagine having transfer linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (Arkansas) fill in behind? Or imagine new defensive back Tamarion McDonald (Tennessee) waiting on the back end for a loose ball?
One won't have to imagine if Nolen commits. And with each passing minute, there's a strong sense he's destined to call Oxford home.
Ole Miss already has the offense necessary to compete for conference championships. National ones? Time will tell leading up to the Peach Bowl. Jaxson Dart led a top-25 scoring offense this season and could return for 2024.
Add in Wells, along with Tre Harris and Quinshon Judkins; that's a trio that's hard to top. Everything else is simply a bonus at this point to strengthen the overall roster.
Defensively, the Rebels have been hindered by a lack of depth rather than talent. Players like Baron, Paul, and McDonald should fill that void in some capacity.
A more relaxed schedule should have Ole Miss dreaming of the College Football Playoff. There's no Alabama on the schedule, nor Texas A&M or Texas. LSU, Oklahoma, and Georgia seem to be the tough matchups, but two of those three are in Oxford.
Kiffin is past the point of being a "tough out" or "rag-tag" program as the league expands to 16 teams. The Rebels are swinging for their shot to garner national respect, entering a new era of college football.
From a transfer portal standpoint, the nation is paying attention.
