by Transfer portal season has been bonkers so far with big names like Dillon Gabriel and Will Howard finding new homes and many other notable athletes still floating around. There are also a select few programs making bigger waves than most at the moment.
Louisville has done a remarkable job revamping its roster by hauling in 10 new players, including elite weapons in Alabama WR Ja’Corey Brooks and Miami (FL) RB Donald Chaney. To no one’s surprise, Deion and Colorado are living up to expectations and currently hold the top spot in the transfer portal rankings. However, the one program that perhaps stands out the most is the Lane Kiffin-led Ole Miss Rebels.
The Rebs have had a near-perfect transfer portal haul already by raking in 13 standout players, including two four-star SEC products over the past two days. Kiffin’s offseason magic has already elevated Ole Miss as a clear playoff contender and a potential SEC favorite in 2024.
Skill positions have never been an issue for Kiffin or Ole Miss, but signing South Carolina star WR Juice Wells yesterday just may give the Rebs the most loaded WR room in college football next season.
Upon Wells’ commitment, here’s what the 2024 Ole Miss WR room currently looks like:
WR1: Tre Harris (team-high 851 yards)
WR2: Juice Wells (#2 WR in portal)
WR3: Jordan Watkins (53-741-3 statline in 2023)
TE: Caden Prieskorn (2nd team All-SEC)
-Deion Smith (#1 JUCO WR)
-Ayden Williams (former 4-star)
-Noreel White (former 4-star)
-Marquis Willis (younger brother of Malik Willis; 6’3”, 220 lbs./ran a sub-4.4)
With QB Jaxson Dart most likely returning, RB Quinshon Judkins hinting at a comeback, an ELITE WR room, and a solid offensive line manufacturing, stacking up the defense is just what could finally put Ole Miss over the top.
About that…
Defensively, the Rebs signed top-rated linebacker Chris Paul Jr. from Arkansas as well as the two top-ranked edge defenders in the portal in Princely Umanmielen (Florida) and Tyler Baron (Tennessee). Ole Miss also bolstered its secondary by bringing in five defensive backs so far, including #6 rated defensive back and Mississippi State CB Decamerion Richardson one hour ago.
If that isn’t enough, Ole Miss just hosted the top-ranked player in the portal, Texas A&M defensive tackle Walter Nolan, over the weekend and there is a lot of buzz that he will be playing in Oxford next fall. If he signs, the Rebs will bring in each of the top three defensive linemen in the portal.
It’s simple: if you can’t outrecruit or outcoach Georgia or Bama, just outportal them. Kiffin has done just that.
Watch out for Ole Miss in 2024. This team is going to be dangerous.