Ole Miss Rebels Among Biggest Spring Transfer Portal Winners
OXFORD, Miss. -- The 2023 spring window for the NCAA Transfer Portal was the busiest period in portal history and the Ole Miss Rebels took full advantage of the influx of talent.
According to 247Sports, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has recruited the No. 5 transfer class in the nation this offseason, preparing his roster for its daunting slate of opponents in the fall. On3 ranked the 12 biggest winners from the spring portal cycle and the Rebels came in at No. 4.
The Auburn Tigers sit atop the rankings at No. 1, followed by the USC Trojans (No. 2), SMU Mustangs (No. 3), Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 5), Florida State (No. 6), Louisville Cardinals (No. 7), Miami Hurricanes (No. 8), Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 9), LSU Tigers (No. 10), California Golden Bears (No. 11), and Oregon Ducks (No. 12).
Here is the excerpt on Ole Miss being named the fourth-biggest winner of the spring transfer cycle.
Only one team, USC, has landed more four-star or better transfers than Ole Miss this offseason. After adding six four-star transfers during the winter, Kiffin and the Rebels secured commitments from two more in the last couple weeks (Franklin and James Madison EDGE transfer Isaac Ukwu) to go along with Tulane cornerback transfer Jadon Canady, UCF cornerback transfer Justin Hodges as well as former Alabama and Nebraska defensive lineman Stephon Wynn. Getting another receiver had been a priority for Ole Miss after Auburn-bound Shane Hooks decommitted in late April, which was then followed by the Rebels dismissing Texas A&M wide receiver transfer Chris Marshall. That made the addition of Franklin, a two-time first-team All-Conference USA selection, a noteworthy win.
The Rebels lost receivers Jonathan Mingo and Malik Heath to the 2023 NFL Draft but were able to find their replacements via the portal this offseason. Former transfer wideouts Zakhari Franklin (UTSA Roadrunners) and Tre Harris (Louisiana Tech Bulldogs) will lead Ole Miss' receiving corp in 2023 after the two caught 25 total touchdown receptions last fall.
Kiffin also recruited underrated talent for new defensive coordinator Pete Golding to utilize. Defensive lineman Isaac Ukwu is one of the more recent additions on defense and was named the No. 2 returning edge rusher in the Southeastern Conference entering the 2023 season by Pro Football Focus.
You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.
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