OXFORD — Given how good he already was, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin’s proclamation about his star wide receiver carries significant weight.
Senior Tre Harris was the Rebels’ leading receiver a season ago, his first since transferring from Louisiana Tech. He caught four touchdowns in the season opener against Mercer and, despite a knee injury that required surgery midseason, Harris finished as Ole Miss’ leading receiver with 985 yards and eight touchdowns. Harris’ 18.2 yards per reception was 22nd among qualified players and fifth among players with at least 950 receiving yards. He had five games with at least 100 receiving yards, including a 134-yard performance in the Rebels’ 38-25 Peach Bowl win against Penn State.
On Monday, Kiffin was asked about Harris’ impact on the program. Kiffin took time in his answer to laud Harris for reaching an even higher level of excellence, which is a scary proposition for opposing defensive backs.
“This may sound strange — if we were to vote on most improved players right now from last season, I would put Tre Harris in that group. Which is saying a lot for … basically a 1,000-yard receiver with missing some games,” Kiffin said. “ … He’s just really had a great mindset all offseason. … Some of these guys come back and they’re a little comfortable and, ‘I’m just kind of going through the motions’ … he has really pushed himself out there. The Tre and Trey (Amos) matchup is really cool to see because they both are highly motivated, competitive individuals.”
The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder from Lafayette, Louisiana, figures to be a key cog in an Ole Miss passing attack that has as many weapons as just about anyone in college football. In addition to Harris, Ole Miss returns senior Jordan Watkins (741 receiving yards), tight end and Peach Bowl offensive MVP senior Caden Prieskorn (449 yards) and added former first-team All-SEC senior receiver Antwane Wells Jr. from South Carolina in the transfer portal. Wells had 928 yards and six touchdowns for the Gamecocks in 2022 but missed most of last year with a foot injury. Wells is not at full strength right now, Kiffin said.
Add in the return of senior quarterback Jaxson Dart, who threw for 3,364 yards and 23 touchdowns a season ago, and young receivers like sophomore Cayden Lee, and the Rebels seem primed to have one of the most dangerous passing offenses in the country.
Ole Miss ranked 12th nationally in team passing efficiency last season, up from 41st the previous season.
“I mean, with the guys we have in the room, it’s unstoppable,” Lee said. “You can’t double anybody, because they’ll just go to somebody else.”
One of the defensive players Harris lines up against frequently in practice is Trey Amos, who transferred from Alabama this offseason. The 6-foot-1 cornerback, who wears No. 9 just like Harris does, believes going against an elite receiver day after day only helps all parties involved.
“It makes you want it more. Like, ‘who wants it more?’” Amos said. “The sense of urgency every play going against Tre Harris (is high).”
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