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Visitors List | Ole Miss set to host talented transfers this weekend

Visitors List | Ole Miss set to host talented transfers this weekend

OXFORD, Miss. — The college football season may have officially come to close with Monday night’s title game, but there is still much going on behind the scenes — especially in Oxford as Lane Kiffin continues to bring some of the top players to Ole Miss. We have confirmed three transfer portal players will be in town this weekend: Dae’quan Wright, Kendrick Blackshire and Yam Banks. 

(Click here to see our Transfer Portal Tracker with updates and links to information about players.)

The Rebels finished the season ranked No. 9 in the nation after the Peach Bowl win over Penn State and are considered a top-5 team by many outlets for 2024. 

Ole Miss currently has the No. 1-ranked transfer portal class in the country, according to 247Sports. The Rebels look to continue to solidify each of their position rooms, and they can help do that with the visitors who are set to be in Oxford this weekend. 

As always, this list is fluid and can have additions or subtractions at any point. We’ll keep you posted if changes are made. 

Transfer Visitors expected in Oxford this weekend

Yam Banks, Safety, South Alabama

 4-star | 6-1, 208 pounds | Ridgeland HS (MS)

Notables: First-Team All-Sun Belt

As a junior, Banks had 6 interceptions, 50 tackles, 6 TFL and 11 pass break ups, which put tied him for 1st in the Sun Belt. 

Dae’quan Wright, Tight End, Virginia Tech

6-4, 240 pounds | Perry HS (GA)

Notables: The former 4-star out of Perry High School in Georgia has been a constant force for the Hokies over his last two seasons. He played more of hybrid-style role in the Virginia Tech offense. While in Blacksburg, Wright had 44 receptions for 510 yards, averaging 11.6 yards per reception.

As a freshman in 2022, he was already turning heads.

Kendrick Blackshire, Linebacker, Alabama

6-2, 233 pounds | Duncanville High School (Duncanville, TX)

Notables: Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding actually recruited the former four-star and top-200 Blackshire back when he was a member of Nick Saban’s staff.

In the 2021 cycle, Blackshire was rated as the No. 24 linebacker and the No. 32 recruit in the state of Texas. Blackshire is currently rated as the No. 34 linebacker in the portal, per On3’s rankings. In three seasons with the Tide, he registered 25 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

Stay tuned for updates on the list of visitors as they happen. Hotty Toddy! 

Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo

Herring-Olvedo sees college football the way championship programs do—from inside the personnel room. Every evaluation, every roster move, every recruiting battle tells a bigger story about identity, culture, and how a program is built to win in December, not just July.

With more than 15 years covering the SEC and the national recruiting landscape, Herring-Olvedo has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most respected personnel-driven voices—blending film evaluation, roster construction, and long-term program vision through a true front-office lens. Her coverage of powerhouse brands like Ole Miss Rebels and Kentucky Wildcatshas consistently gone beyond headlines, focusing instead on the blueprint behind winning programs: development, fit, culture, and recruiting strategy.

That foundation was formed early at Brown University, where she worked in player personnel and recruiting while competing as a student-athlete. Inside those recruiting operations rooms, she learned how elite organizations are truly built—through relentless evaluation, relationship building, projection, and trust in the board. Those experiences shaped the way she studies the game today: part scout, part storyteller, part architect.

Her analysis and reporting have appeared across major platforms including ESPN, NFL coverage spaces, USA Today Sports, and Saturday Down South. She also brought her personnel-minded approach to the airwaves as an on-air analyst for the Wake Up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1, where she became known for combining film-room detail with a wider understanding of roster identity and program trajectory.

In 2025, covering the rise of Houston Cougars football under Willie Fritz reignited the part of the sport that first drew her into football—the culture, the edge, the belief that a roster can reshape an entire city. That inspiration led to the launch of Coogs 365 Sports, a platform built to cover Houston athletics through a true scouting and recruiting lens while connecting the emotion of the game to the heartbeat of H-Town.

Now, Herring-Olvedo returns to The Rebel Walk where with an even deeper perspective shaped by years inside recruiting circles, national SEC coverage, and hands-on evaluation experience. Her return brings a familiar voice back to Ole Miss coverage—but with an evolved lens rooted in roster architecture, player development, and the modern realities of building championship-caliber football in the NIL and portal era.

For Herring-Olvedo, recruiting has never been about stars beside a name. It is about identifying competitors, projecting growth, and building a locker room capable of sustaining success. Her philosophy mirrors the best front offices in football: stack traits, trust culture, and never stop building.

About The Author

Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo

Herring-Olvedo sees college football the way championship programs do—from inside the personnel room. Every evaluation, every roster move, every recruiting battle tells a bigger story about identity, culture, and how a program is built to win in December, not just July. With more than 15 years covering the SEC and the national recruiting landscape, Herring-Olvedo has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most respected personnel-driven voices—blending film evaluation, roster construction, and long-term program vision through a true front-office lens. Her coverage of powerhouse brands like Ole Miss Rebels and Kentucky Wildcatshas consistently gone beyond headlines, focusing instead on the blueprint behind winning programs: development, fit, culture, and recruiting strategy. That foundation was formed early at Brown University, where she worked in player personnel and recruiting while competing as a student-athlete. Inside those recruiting operations rooms, she learned how elite organizations are truly built—through relentless evaluation, relationship building, projection, and trust in the board. Those experiences shaped the way she studies the game today: part scout, part storyteller, part architect. Her analysis and reporting have appeared across major platforms including ESPN, NFL coverage spaces, USA Today Sports, and Saturday Down South. She also brought her personnel-minded approach to the airwaves as an on-air analyst for the Wake Up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1, where she became known for combining film-room detail with a wider understanding of roster identity and program trajectory. In 2025, covering the rise of Houston Cougars football under Willie Fritz reignited the part of the sport that first drew her into football—the culture, the edge, the belief that a roster can reshape an entire city. That inspiration led to the launch of Coogs 365 Sports, a platform built to cover Houston athletics through a true scouting and recruiting lens while connecting the emotion of the game to the heartbeat of H-Town. Now, Herring-Olvedo returns to The Rebel Walk where with an even deeper perspective shaped by years inside recruiting circles, national SEC coverage, and hands-on evaluation experience. Her return brings a familiar voice back to Ole Miss coverage—but with an evolved lens rooted in roster architecture, player development, and the modern realities of building championship-caliber football in the NIL and portal era. For Herring-Olvedo, recruiting has never been about stars beside a name. It is about identifying competitors, projecting growth, and building a locker room capable of sustaining success. Her philosophy mirrors the best front offices in football: stack traits, trust culture, and never stop building.

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