Ole Miss Football Transfer Portal Addition Could Be Critical X-Factor for the Rebels

Pete Golding and Co. are hoping this newcomer can make a difference in 2026, stable of running backs to work with.
Courtesy of Joshua Dye on Instagram.

Pete Golding and the Ole Miss Rebels reloaded the running back room in Oxford this offseason after stacking a trio of newcomers via the NCAA Transfer Portal.

The Rebels return All-American Kewan Lacy in the backfield, but with fresh legs joining the roster this offseason, the Ole Miss offensive staff will look to take weight off of Lacy's shoulders in 2026.

Lacy 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.

“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.”

Now, Ole Miss has added a trio of newcomers in the backfield to join a stacked running back room for the 2026 season.

Ole Miss Rebels Football.
Courtesy of Joshua Dye on Instagram.

The Newcomers: Rebels Ink Multiple Running Backs

No. 1: RB Makhi Frazier - Michigan State

Frazier checks in as the No. 8 rated back in the Transfer Portal and the top remaining prospect at his position with the Rebels hitting a home run once again in the free agent market.

The Texas native rushed 116 times for 520 yards across the 2025 season while leading Michigan State’s ground attack. Frazier also tallied a pair of touchdowns on the season for the Spartans.

After two seasons with the Michigan State program, Frazier locked in on the Ole Miss Rebels and Indiana Hoosiers as potential landing spots with Golding and Co. securing the commitment after a trip to the Magnolia State.

No. 2: RB Joshua Dye - Southern Utah

The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder is coming off of a dominant campaign where he ran the ball 295 times for 1,831 yards and 28 touchdowns across the 2025 season where he evolved into the top running back at the FCS level.

Dye ultimately earned First-Team AP FCS All-America honors while finishing fourth in the 2025 Walter Payton Award voting.

The historic season in which Dye rounded out the year at No. 1 in FCS in rushing touchdowns, rushing yards, yards per game (152.7) and scoring (168) has him emerging as a hot commodity on the recruiting scene with Ole Miss in pursuit.

Ole Miss Rebels Football.
Courtesy of JT Lindsey's Instagram.

No. 3: RB JT Lindsey - LSU

Lindsey signed with the LSU Tigers as a Top-10 running back in America in the 2025 Recruiting Cycle, but off-field "issues" kept him away from the program for the 2025 season where he utilized a redshirt year.

A highly-touted recruit, Lindsey held a myriad of offers where his junior campaign on the prep scene put his name on the map.

Across the 2023 season, Lindsey ran for 1,729 yards and 26 touchdowns where he earned several offers from prominent programs, but his senior season was then one for the history books where he led his prep squad to an undefeated regular season with a 10-0 record.

Lindsey put up a dominant stat line after rushing for 2,476 yards on 324 carries with 33 touchdowns to go with it in 2024.

More Ole Miss News:

Ole Miss Football Targeting No. 1 Prospect on Georgia Bulldogs Board Amid Strong Push

Ole Miss Football and Texas Longhorns Pushing to Flip Coveted WR Committed to SEC Foe

Every Ole Miss Football Player That Received an Invitation to the 2026 NFL Combine

Join the Community:

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and Ole Miss Rebels On SI: @OleMissOnSI for all coverage surrounding the Ole Miss program.


Published
Zack Nagy
ZACK NAGY

Zack Nagy is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Ole Miss Rebels On SI, a Sports Illustrated Publication. Nagy has covered Rebel Football, Baseball, Basketball and Recruiting, looking to keep readers updated on anything and everything involving Ole Miss athletics. Nagy has covered the Southeastern Conference for over half a decade after being born and raised in New Orleans (La.).

Share on XFollow znagy20