A Visit with No. 1 JUCO Wide Receiver Deion Smith Who is Set to Arrive at Ole Miss Soon | ‘I can’t wait to add to an already-stacked team’
OXFORD, Miss. — Deion Smith, the No. 1 junior college wide receiver in the entirety of the class of 2024, will soon arrive in Oxford, making Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss receiving corps arguably the best in the nation.
Smith, who recently finished completing all the necessary academic requirements to enroll at Ole Miss, should arrive on June 1, and we had the opportunity to get his thoughts on joining the Rebels.
Out of high school, Smith was a four-star prospect who was listed as the No. 1 player in the state of Mississippi in his prep class. He originally signed with LSU and spent his freshman season in Baton Rouge before transferring to Holmes Community College.
Although Smith graduated from Holmes, he still had some academic work to handle — but that’s all taken care of now. We asked him how he feels right now, knowing he will finally get his shot at playing for the Rebels in front of fans who have eagerly awaited news of his arrival.
“I am relieved it’s finally over,” Smith said of his academic and recruiting journey to Ole Miss. “I still have to finish strong, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now,” he added.
The Jackson, Miss. native was spectacular at Holmes this fall, leading the nation in receiving yards and yards per game. He amassed 1,063 yards on 48 catches and notched 12 touchdowns — all in just eight games.
Deion Smith has committed to play football at Ole Miss!
He is arguably the best JUCO WR talent in the whole nation! pic.twitter.com/Xu30pyhuCA
— Blake Levine (@blake_levine) December 4, 2023
Smith’s per-catch average was an incredible 22.1 yards per reception. Can you even imagine him in a Lane Kiffin offense?
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Smith can.
“I can’t wait to add to an already-stacked team,” Smith tells us.
Smith possesses a skill-set that is next-level, one that many are calling the missing piece to the offense — an offense that is projected to compete for a national title in the College Football Playoffs this season.
We asked what Smith’s goals are at Ole Miss for his first season.
“To have over 1,000 yards and make 1st Team All SEC and All-America honors. I like to think big with my goals.”
Deion Smith
There is no doubt this young man has the talent to achieve all the above.
We asked him about the Rebels’ new wide receiver coach George McDonald.
“I like Coach McDonald a lot. I talk to him weekly and can’t wait to get there with the guys,” Smith says.
“The guys” Smith will be joining are an elite-level unit that looks as if it could be the best in the nation. There is no doubt Coach McDonald must be thrilled to have Smith joining the talented corps of Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, Juice Wells, Noreel White, Ayden Williams, Cayden Lee, Devin Price, Joshua Aka, Josh Pfeifer and Jarnorris Hopson, to name a few.
And if you want to know just how good Deion Smith is, former Ole Miss legendary wide receiver Shay Hodge sums it up.
“He’s better than I was. Him being faster and being able to run routes, plus catch contested balls, makes him elite. Justin Jefferson 2.0.”
Ole Miss legendary WR Shay Hodge on Deion Smith
That is high praise coming from Hodge, who was a 4-year starter at Ole Miss. The Morton, Miss. native rewrote the Rebels’ record books, becoming Ole Miss’ first 1,000-yard receiver in school history. Hodge set the single-season yards record (1,135 yards) and career receiving yards record (2,646) and went on to earn 1st Team All SEC and Honorable Mention All America honors. He led the entire SEC in all major receiving categories in 2009.
Deion Smith
(@deion1_ )
6’3 190
Wide Receiver
Holmes CC
December Grad▪️Deion isn’t only a great receiver, he adds value in the return game as well.
▪️Generational Talent pic.twitter.com/3dHSCHzCkc
— Shay Hodge™ (@shayhodge3) October 13, 2023
Simply put, Hodge knows talent when he sees it, and he sees it in Smith, calling him a “generational talent.”
Ole Miss kicks off on August 31 against Furman in Vaught-Hemingway. Hotty Toddy!
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.
