Ole Miss defensive line set to be one of nation’s best in 2024

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss were hot on the recruiting trail this fall, and it’s been a December to remember — most recently with the addition of the No. 1 player in the transfer portal, defensive lineman Walter Nolen. 

The former Aggie stands at 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, and is an absolute powerhouse of a defensive tackle. Now that Nolen is officially locked in for next season, I can confidently say the 2024 Rebels will have one of the best defensive lines in the country.

Defensive coordinator Pete Golding and defensive line coach Randall Joyner  have also received commitments from Princely Umanmielen (Florida) and Tyler Baron (Tennessee), the No. 1 and 2 edge players in the portal. Umanmielen is 6-foot 5, 255 pounds, while Baron is 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, and the two accounted for over 20 tackles for loss and 13 sacks this past season. 

Currently, Ole Miss is ranked No. 1 in the nation in transfer portal team rankings.

Having to scheme for Nolen, Umanmielen, and Baron will be a nightmare for opposing offensive lines, and that’s just three of the players the Rebels will have on the defensive line.

On top of acquiring some of the top defensive talent in the portal, the Rebs are also bringing in a premier 2024 recruiting class, with four of their top-six ranked signees falling on the defensive line. 

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Kam Franklin is a five-star defensive lineman who will be joined by four-stars William Echoles, Jeffrey Rush, and Kam Beavers. All will have a chance to compete for playing time the second they arrive on campus.

To have such an outstanding group of freshman practicing alongside the veteran additions from the portal will bring an extremely competitive environment to the team, resulting in improvement for every player involved.

The cherry on top of the D-line situation as a whole comes in the form of the 2023 players will be returning next season. JJ Pegues and Jared Ivey, two multi-year Rebs, are coming back in 2024. Both starters will have one year of eligibility remaining and will have the chance to become two of the most efficient leaders on the team, anchoring the Ole Miss defensive line.

As it stands on December 26th, defensive linemen Joshua Harris, Zxavian Harris, Jamarious Brown, Chamberlain Campbell, and Deejay Holmes Jr. will also return to Ole Miss in 2024.

Between the young players coming in, veterans, transfers, depth, and overall capability, this defensive line has a chance to make history at Ole Miss for years to come.

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