Select Page

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Football Welcome 31 Mid-Year Enrollees and Nation’s No. 1 Transfer Class

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Football Welcome 31 Mid-Year Enrollees and Nation’s No. 1 Transfer Class

OXFORD, Miss. – With spring football just a few months away, the Ole Miss football program has added a new infusion of talent to the roster, welcoming 31 mid-year enrollees to campus.

The list of new Rebels joining the team for spring practice features 17 Division I transfers that 247Sports currently ranks as the No. 1 class in the team transfer rankings. Ole Miss claimed four of the top 50 available transfers, according to Rivals.

The latest D1 transfers include: Trey Amos (CB), Yam Banks (S), Julius Buelow (OL), Logan Diggs (RB), Nate Kalepo (OL), Key Lawrence (S), Louis Moore (S), Walter Nolen (DT), Chris Paul Jr. (LB), Diego Pounds (OL), Devin Price (WR), Gequan Scott (OL), Brandon Turnage (CB), Princely Umanmielen (DE), Amorion Walker (CB), Antwane Wells Jr. (WR) and Dae’Quan Wright (TE).

Twelve December signees Travaris Banks (S), Cedrick Beavers (CB), Cam Clark (DE), Raymond Collins (LB), Jude Foster (OL), Kam Franklin (DE), Dillon Hipp (TE), Andy Jaffe (S), AJ Maddox (QB), Anthony Robinson III (S), Jeffery Rush (DT) and Noreel White (WR), along with walk-ons Paris Evans (DE) and Wylie Riley (DE), round out Ole Miss’ early enrollees.

Nolen, a defensive tackle transfer from Texas A&M, is rated as a unanimous five-star transfer and the nation’s No. 2 overall transfer according to both On3 and Rivals. Nolen appeared in 22 career games for the Aggies, including 10 starts on the defensive line in 2023. The former prep Under Armour All-American registered 37 total tackles last year with 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks as a sophomore.

Florida transfer, Umanmielen, is coming off a career season with the Gators in which he tallied 39 total tackles, leading the team in both tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (seven). The 2023 All-SEC second team honoree also registered a team-high 17 quarterback hurries. In his four-year career with Florida, Umanmielen amassed 24.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks in 45 career games. The Manor, Texas, native currently ranks as the No. 11 overall transfer according to On3.

Another top-25 transfer, Wells comes to Oxford after appearing in 38 career games for South Carolina, earning All-SEC first team accolades in 2022 and FCS All-America honors in 2021. The Richmond, Va., native battled injury in 2023, appearing in just three games for the Gamecocks following a breakout season in 2022 that saw his haul in 68 catches for 928 yards and six touchdowns. Wells, who began his collegiate career at James Maddison, has notched 12 career games with over 100-yards receiving.

Lawrence, who is ranked as the No. 49 transfer by Rivals, has appeared in 46 career games, including 14 starts, over his four-year collegiate career at Oklahoma and Tennessee. In his three years with the Sooners, Lawrence tallied 149 total tackles, including 44 tackles and two interceptions in 2023. The Nashville, Tennessee, native was a consensus four-star prospect and a top-100 recruit at Ensworth High School.

A four-star recruit out of Fort Bend Marshall High School, Marshall didn’t play football until his junior season with the Buffalos. He was a 2022 Under Armour All-American as a senior, tallying 466 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in just seven games.

Amos, joins the Rebel secondary after spending the 2023 season at Alabama and three seasons before that at Louisiana. Amos registered five pass breakups over the course of 14 games played for the Crimson Tide. Prior to Alabama, Amos appeared in 34 games at Louisiana, tallying 59 career tackles and 14 pass breakups.

Banks appeared in 45 career games for South Alabama on the defensive secondary. The Ridgeland, Mississippi, native registered 46 total tackles last year, including 5.5 tackles for loss. Banks earned first-team All-American accolades in 2022 after finishing with 50 tackles, six tackles for loss and a team-high six interceptions.

Buelow, a 6-foot-8, 315-pound offensive lineman, joins Ole Miss following five seasons at Washington. The Kapolei, Hawaii, native started nine games for the Huskies in 2023, helping lead Washington to a 14-1 season and the CFP championship game. Buelow was a member of the Husky o-line that earned the 2023 Joe Moore Award, given to the top offensive line unit in college football.

Diggs spent the 2023 season at LSU and led all Tiger running backs with 119 carries for 653 yards and seven touchdowns. He appeared in 10 games for the Tigers last season, starting eight and surpassing the 100-yard rushing mark in three of those contests. Prior to LSU, Diggs was a two-year letterwinner at Notre Dame, earning eight starts over the course of 20 appearances. For his career, Diggs has rushed for 1,705 yards and 14 TDs.

Kiffin again used the portal to grab another award-winning offensive lineman from Washington with the addition of Kalepo. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound lineman appeared in 40 career games in Seattle, with 15 straight starts in 2023 at the guard position. Kalepo earned prep All-America accolades at Rainier Beach High School and was the No. 2 recruit in Washington according to Rivals.

Moore appeared in 24 career games at Indiana with 10 starts at safety, after starting off his career at Navarro College. 2023 was Moore’s best collegiate year with 83 total tackles and three interceptions for the Hoosiers. The Mesquite, Texas, native also forced three fumbles for Indiana last year.

Paul Jr., a 2022 Freshman All-American, brings multiple years of eligibility and experience to the Ole Miss squad. The former Razorback linebacker appeared in 28 contests and started 11 games for Arkansas over three seasons. Paul Jr., a native of Cordele, Georgia, was a part of the Butkus Award watch list ahead of the 2023 season. He burst onto the scene in 2022, as a redshirt freshman, by recording 62 total tackles, with eight tackles for loss. He followed that up by recording 74 stops in 2023 with 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Paul Jr. recorded 11 total pressures and missed just six tackles in 514 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

Pounds, a two-year letterwinner at North Carolina, appeared in 18 total games for the Tar Heels, making eight starts at tackle in 2023. Pounds registered a pass-blocking grade of 74 from PFF last season. A prep star at Millbrooks High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, Pounds was a member of the ESPN300 coming out of high school.

Price comes to Oxford after spending 2023 at FAU. The College Station, Texas, native hauled in seven catches for 120 yards and one touchdown for the Owls last year. Prior to FAU, Price spent three seasons at Texas A&M, appearing in 29 career games for the Aggies.

Scott, an interior offensive lineman, joins Ole Miss after starting 24 straight games for Southern Miss over the last two seasons. The Mobile, Alabama, native has seen action in 33 collegiate games and played 2,720 snaps during his college career. Scott didn’t allow a sack last season for the Golden Eagles in 401 pass blocks.

Turnage, an Oxford native and 2019 graduate of Lafayette High School, is a versatile defensive back transfer who has seen action in 33 collegiate games over the course of five seasons at Tennessee and Alabama. Had his best statistical season in 2021 when he tallied 22 total tackles for the Volunteers.

Walker appeared in 12 contests over the last two seasons for Michigan, playing defensive back in seven and wide receiver in five of those games. Rated as a four-star high school prospect by ESPN, Walker hauled in eight catches for 143 yards in the Louisiana Class 5A state title game on way to earning Most Outstanding Player accolades.

Virginia Tech tight end Wright adds yet another threat to the Ole Miss offense. In two seasons with the Hokies, Wright hauled in 47 career catches for 574 yards. The Perry, Georgia, native appeared in 19 career games at Virginia Tech, including seven starts in 2023. Wright has two years of eligibility remaining.

2024 OLE MISS MID-YEAR ENROLLEES

Trey Amos                     CB         6-1        200       Sr.        New Iberia, La. (Alabama)

Travaris Banks               S           6-2        195       Fr.        Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Hillcrest)

Yam Banks                      S           6-1        210       Sr.        Ridgeland, Miss. (South Alabama)

Cedrick Beavers             CB         5-10     180       Jr.         Taylorsville, Miss. (Jones College)

Julius Buelow                 OL         6-8        315       Sr.        Kapolei, Hawaii (Washington)

Cam Clark                       DE         6-3        235       Fr.        Medina, Tenn. (South Gibson)

Raymond Collins           LB         6-2        240       Jr.         Gulfport, Miss. (Jones College)

Logan Diggs                    RB         6-1        215       Sr.        Boutte, La. (LSU)

Paris Evans^                   DE         6-4        235       Fr.        Waynesboro, Miss. (Wayne County

Jude Foster                    OL         6-4        300       Fr.        Baton Rouge, La. (Southern Lab

Kam Franklin                  DE         6-6        265       Fr.        Lake Cormorant, Miss. (Lake Cormorant)

Dillon Hipp                     TE         6-6        240       Fr.        Scottsdale, Ariz. (Desert Mountain)

Andy Jaffe                      S           6-1        185       Fr.        Tampa, Fla. (Clearwater Central Catholic)

Nate Kalepo                   OL         6-6        325       Sr.        Renton, Wash. (Washington)

Key Lawrence                S           6-1        205       Sr.        Nashville, Tenn. (Oklahoma)

AJ Maddox                     QB        6-2        175       Fr.        Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove)

Louis Moore                   S           6-1        190       Sr.        Mesquite, Texas (Indiana)

Walter Nolen                 DT         6-4        290       Jr.         Powell, Tenn. (Texas A&M)

Chris Paul Jr.                  LB         6-1        235       Jr.         Cordele, Ga. (Arkansas)

Diego Pounds                OL         6-6        330       Jr.         Raleigh, N.C. (North Carolina)

Devin Price^                   WR       6-3        200       Sr.        College Station, Texas (FAU)

Wylie Riley^                   DE         6-4        210       Fr.        Lake Cormorant, Miss. (Hernando)

Anthony Robinson III   S           6-1        190       Fr.        St. Rose, La. (Destrehan)

Jeffery Rush                   DT         6-2        290       Fr.        Pascagoula, Miss. (Pascagoula)

Gerquan Scott               OL         6-4        330       Sr.        Mobile, Ala. (Southern Miss)

Brandon Turnage^        CB         6-1        185       Sr.        Oxford, Miss. (Tennessee)

Princely Umanmielen  DE         6-5        255       Sr.        Manor, Texas (Florida)

Amorion Walker            CB         6-3        180       Jr.         Ponchatoula, La. (Michigan)

Antwane Wells Jr.         WR       6-1        210       Jr.         Richmond, Va. (South Carolina)

Noreel White                 WR       6-1        185       Fr.        Moss Point, Miss. (St. Martin)

Dae’Quan Wright          TE         6-4        250       Jr.         Perry, Ga. (Virginia Tech)

^ Non-scholarship    

Evelyn Van Pelt

Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.

About The Author

Evelyn Van Pelt

Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.

Leave a Reply

Pre-Season Camp

Get RW Updates