OXFORD – Ole Miss was love at first sight – and sound – for Keaton Thomas.
Thomas, a high school receiver and defensive back from Jacksonville, Florida, who began his career at West Virginia in the secondary before becoming an All-American linebacker at Northeast Mississippi Community College, played the previous two seasons at Baylor. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder starred as the Bears’ leading linebacker, racking up 219 tackles – including 14 for loss – over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He was named second-team All-Big 12 last season and entered the transfer portal in December before committing to the Rebels in January as a three-star transfer prospect.
He and former Cal linebacker Luke Ferrelli – the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year – figure to solidify a room that already returns senior Suntarine Perkins, who has 179 career tackles in three seasons with the Rebels.
“It was just apparent to me that this needed to be my first visit. And it was my only visit,” Thomas said. “So, I came here, talked ball all day for about seven hours, and I just fell in love. … I’m familiar with Mississippi and the north Mississippi area. It was a no-brainer, so that’s why I ended up coming here.”
Ole Miss’ defensive scheme is similar to what Baylor ran and will allow him to display his ability as a blitzer and in coverage, Thomas said. Of his 793 snaps a season ago, 408 came as a run defender, 340 came in coverage and 45 came as a pass rusher, according to Pro Football Focus. Thomas had 11 pressures in those 45 snaps, tied for fifth most on the Bears despite having just the 11th-most pass rush snaps, per PFF.
Rebels head coach Pete Golding made an instant impact on Thomas and his family, winning them over in part because of his “authentic” and “hilarious” nature.
“My mom loved him, dad loved him,” Thomas said.
The football side of Golding also appealed to Thomas, who lauded the former defensive coordinator’s football acumen, scheme and results.
“It’s like talking to a defensive genius,” Thomas said. “I mean, this is a guy who’s been in it for a long time and has won championships with this style of defense. And so anything he says, I’m going to do – whether I can’t figure it out right now, then I’m going to work harder at it, stay longer and watching it, learning it – and then come in next day and executing it.”
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