OXFORD – Ole Miss junior wide receiver Cayden Lee might be one of the few returning veterans in a Rebels offense filled with new faces. But the Georgia native isn’t trying to put any extra expectation on himself.
And why would he? Things have worked out pretty well for him so far.
Lee is one of two returning starters on an Ole Miss offense that was third nationally in scoring last season. Among the departed players are star quarterback Jaxson Dart, wide receivers Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins and Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr., and tight end Caden Prieskorn.
In addition to reloading through the transfer portal with four four-star wide receivers, the No. 21 Rebels return Lee, who had 57 catches for 874 yards in 2024, and will have redshirt sophomore Austin Simmons under center.
Ole Miss opens its season Saturday against Georgia State at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium at 6:45 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
“Just doing what the coaches ask me to do. I trust myself and trust my training,” Lee said. “I do a lot in the offseason to prepare myself for the games that are coming up and the season that we’re going to have. It really just comes down to the training that I feel like put myself in in the offseason. So, I feel like (there’s) no pressure.”
Simmons, who was part of the 2023 recruiting class with Lee, attempted just 32 passes behind Dart a season ago but thrived when pressed into action against No. 3 Georgia, completing 5 of 6 passes for 64 yards on an eventual touchdown drive. Simmons and Lee are “best friends” and spend ample time off the field together, which helps build the type of chemistry needed for the offense to operate at its highest levels.
In addition to Lee, Ole Miss added former Oklahoma State receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, former Penn State receiver Harrison Wallace III, former West Virginia wide receiver Traylon Ray and former Wake Forest receiver Deuce Alexander through the transfer portal. The Rebels also return senior tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who caught 27 passes for 394 yards and four touchdowns last year.
Lee admits it’s “kind of surreal” his classmate is about to be the starting quarterback at Ole Miss.
“We came in together, stayed through everything and he’s done a good job just battling everything,” Lee said. “To finally see him just get his opportunity, it’s really awesome. I know he’s going to go out there and just do what we know he can do.”
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