The names and faces on the 2025 edition of Ole Miss football will be different. But that doesn’t mean the Rebels will lack for talent.
Household names like Jaxson Dart, Jordan Watkins, Tre Harris, J.J. Pegues, Jared Ivey and Walter Nolen are all onto their professional careers. Ole Miss won 29 games over the last three years, the last a dominant 52-20 effort over Duke in the Gator Bowl.
Though the 2024 season just ended, it’s never too early to look ahead at what next year’s Rebels might look like. So, here is a position by position look at 2025 Ole Miss. One note to keep in mind: the transfer portal keeps things fluid, so it’s impossible to know exactly what next year’s roster will look like.
Quarterback
Dart left Ole Miss as the program’s all-time leader in passing yards, total yards and wins by a starting quarterback. His impact on the program can’t be overstated. The cupboard is hardly bare under center, however, as Austin Simmons appears poised to be the next great quarterback to play for head coach Lane Kiffin. Simmons reclassified to graduate from high school two years early, enrolling with the program prior to the 2023 season. After redshirting his first season, Simmons looked solid in limited action this past season. Dart was injured on the first drive against No. 3 Georgia, thrusting Simmons into the game with the Rebels trailing 7-0. The lefty from Florida masterfully orchestrated a touchdown drive that kept the game from spiraling away early until Dart could reenter.
The depth behind Simmons is a bit untested, so it’s possible the Rebels add a veteran from the transfer portal to beef up the room in the coming months.
Running back
Ulysses Bentley IV and Henry Parrish Jr. are gone, leaving major voids in productivity in the running back room. Freshman Shekai Mills-Knight is a bruiser who has the body of a ready-made player. And as we saw with Quinshon Judkins a few years ago, Kiffin isn’t afraid to throw a freshman into the fire if he’s the best option. The Rebels also added Kewan Lacy from Missouri. Lacy was a four-star member of the Tigers’ 2024 class.
Wide receiver and tight end
Ole Miss loses a lot of receiving options, as Harris, Watkins, Antwane “Juice” Wells and Caden Prieskorn are all gone. Cayden Lee had just under 900 yards as a sophomore and appears poised to take another leap as a top option in 2025, as does tight end Dae’Quan Wright. In addition to portal additions like receivers De’Zhaun Stribling (Oklahoma State), Deuce Alexander (Wake Forest) and Caleb Odom (Alabama) and tight end Luke Hasz (Arkansas), Ole Miss added one of the top receiving prospects from the high school ranks in Caleb Cunningham. The unanimous five-star could be a player who makes an instant impact given his combination of size and speed.
Offensive line
This group will look as different as any on the team. While tackle Diego Pounds returns, center Reece McIntyre, guards Nate Kalepo, Julius Buelow, Caleb Warren, Eli Acker, Gerquan Scott and Jeremy James are all gone – as is longtime starting tackle Micah Pettus, who was dismissed from the program and transferred to Florida State. As has been the case in recent years, Ole Miss added in the trenches via transfer portal, with the biggest signee being former Arkansas guard Patrick Kutas. Kutas was rated as a four-star transfer and will look to make an instant impact with fellow transfers P.J. Wilkins (Charlotte) and Delano Townsend (UAB). Ole Miss also recruited young offensive linemen in its last few cycles who will likely get a chance to start.
Defensive line
Nolen, Pegues, Ivey and Princely Umanmielen formed arguably the best defensive line in the country in 2024. All are gone, though talent remains in the room. Zxavian Harris has seen substantial time in his three seasons and is a difference maker, as was Jamarious Brown in limited action. Princewill Umanimielen – Princely’s younger brother – is a highly touted transfer from Nebraska who figures to fill an immediate void up front. Former five-star edge rusher Da’Shawn Womack (LSU) could be a star as well under defensive coordinator Pete Golding. William Echoles and Kam Franklin were big pieces of last year’s high-school recruiting class and figure to see increased roles as sophomores. And, of course, Suntarine Perkins returns after notching a career-high 10.5 sacks in his first season as a full-time edge rusher.
Linebacker
Chris “Pooh” Paul was a star in his lone season with Ole Miss after transferring from Arkansas, as he was a finalist for the Butkus Award. T.J. Dottery returns after a breakout redshirt sophomore season where he racked up 76 tackles. The Rebels added Andrew Jones (Grambling State) and Jaden Yates (Marshall) in the transfer portal.
Defensive back
Trey Amos was one of the SEC’s best cornerbacks in his lone season at Ole Miss and is off to the NFL Draft. Brandon Turnage, Isaiah Hamilton and Jadon Canady are gone as well. The Rebels return Chris Graves and added Jaylon Braxton from Arkansas.
The safety group will look far different in 2025 as well, as longtime starters John Saunders and Trey Washington are gone, as are Key Lawrence, Louis Moore and Yam Banks.
Special teams
Kicker Caden Davis and punter Fraser Masin are both gone after starting for two years and three years, respectively. Ole Miss added Western Kentucky’s Lucas Carneiro at kicker and returns Charlie Pollock at punter.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
