2025 Transfer Portal | Names to Watch for Ole Miss Football in the Transfer Portal
OXFORD, Miss. – The 2024 regular season has officially concluded for college football, and we are seeing an incredible number of talented players in the transfer portal in search of a new home. Here are potential portal entries to keep your eyes out for — along with those who have already committed to Ole Miss.
Updated February 1: The Rebels have 24 commitments thus far. (Click HERE for the TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER.)
Players to Watch in the Portal
Harrison ‘Trey” Wallace – Penn State WR – Committed to Ole Miss 1/19
Penn State wide receiver Harrison “Trey” Wallace is set to visit Ole Miss Friday, according to Matt Zenitz. Wallace was the leading receiver for the Nittany Lions this past season, notching 46 catches for 720 yards and four TDs in his 15 games played. He will have one year of eligibility remaining, and is the top available wide receiver in the portal.
In Penn State’s playoff run, Wallace tallied seven catches for 85 yards. He has recorded 1,221 career receiving yards.
Wallace’s scheduled visits include a trip to A&M Saturday and South Carolina on Sunday. He also plans to visit Louisville and North Carolina. The former four-star prospect played high school football at Pike Road (AL), the same school that produced former Rebel, Quinshon Judkins.
Kapena Gushiken – Washington DB – committed to Ole Miss 1/14
Ole Miss hosted former Washington State defensive back Kapena Gushiken a week ago, and he has now committed to Lane Kiffin and the Rebels, according to Pete Nakos. Gushiken, a safety who played 25 games for the Cougars, will have an additional year of eligibility thanks to a new rule for those who played JUCO football.
Last season, the 6-foot-0, 185-pound Gushiken appeared in all 13 games, 11 as a starter, for Washington State and was third on team with 52 tackles. He also notched 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and recovered one fumble.
Gushiken was named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List after playing in 25 career games for the Cougars. On the whole for his career, he tallied a total of 88 tackles, five tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups, three interceptions and one sack.
Thaddeus Dixon – Washington CB – committed to UNC
Ole Miss hosted Washington transfer portal DB Thaddeus Dixon this weekend for an official visit. Dixon was expected to visit Michigan on Sunday; however, no one has yet confirmed he made it to Ann Arbor for the visit. He will have one year of eligibility.
The 6-foot-1, 186-pound Dixon, considered a four-star prospect in the portal, attended the Ole Miss men’s basketball game vs. LSU Saturday. With the Huskies, Dixon played in 26 games, notching 66 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and 18 pass breakups and also competed in the 2023 national championship game.
As a high school recruit, Dixon played for Paramount (Calif.) High School. He then attended Long Beach City College, where he was ranked as the nation’s No. 6 CB and the No. 9 JUCO player from California. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Dixon posted a list of his top schools: Ole Miss, Tennessee, North Carolina, Michigan and Washington.
Jordon Simmons – Akron running back – Committed to Ole Miss
Akron running back Jordon Simmons visited Ole Miss and left with an offer on Wednesday. He soon committed. He transferred to Akron from Michigan State. This past season, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Simmons ran for 664 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Scottre Humphrey – Montana State running back – transferred to New Mexico
Humphrey has not yet visited Oxford but was offered Wednesday night by Ole Miss. He also has offers from Virginia Tech, North Carolina, West Virginia and others.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Humphrey recorded 1,386 yards and scored 16 touchdowns in his 15 games in 2024. He helped lead his Montana State team to the FCS Championship.
Brandon Cisse – North Carolina State DB – Committed to South Carolina
Brandon Cisse, a transfer defensive back from North Carolina State, visited Ole Miss on Monday. He will have two season of eligibility remaining. His teammate and fellow DB Tamarcus Cooley visited prior to Cisse.
In 2024, the speedy Cisse was injured for three games but started all nine games he did play in, notching 28 tackles and five pass breakups. He has played in 22 games in his two seasons for the Wolfpack.
In terms of his speed, the 6-foot-0, 185-pound Cisse has recorded a 4.45-second 40-yard dash.
As a senior at Lakewood High School in Sumter, South Carolina, Cisse notched 42 catches for 764 yards and eight touchdowns, recording 1,220 all-purpose yards. On the defensive side of the ball, he recorded 38 tackles, one interception, 13 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Justin Okoronkwo – Alabama LB – committed to South Carolina
The rising sophomore spent his freshman year in Tuscaloosa, appearing in all 13 games and recording 14 total tackles, finding himself in an important special teams role with the Tide. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 230 pounds, Okoronkwo will have three years of eligibility, looking to blossom into an NFL-level prospect at his next school.
The Germany native grew up in a world filled with soccer and gymnastics before putting on the football pads, establishing an elite level of athleticism in his arsenal. With his potential and remaining time to develop as a college player, Justin will be an exciting addition to whichever program he takes his talents.
Traylon Ray – West Virginia WR – Committed to Ole Miss
Former West Virginia transfer portal wide receiver Traylon Ray visited Ole Miss and has now committed. The 6-foot-1.5, 185-pound Ray was injured in the Mountaineers’ game against Baylor, but he did see action in 10 games this season, tallying 28 receptions for 426 yards and four touchdowns. He spent two seasons with West Virginia before entering the portal.
Ray was a four-star prospect out of North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.) in the 2023 recruiting class. He was ranked the No. 54 wide receiver in the country at the time and chose the Mountaineers over Florida State, Florida, Miami, Mississippi State and others.
Ben Bell – Texas State DE – Committed to Virginia Tech
Ole Miss hosted host Texas State transfer portal defensive end Ben Bell on Tuesday, January 7.
Bell has been one of the most productive defensive ends in the country over his five years at the college level. After two seasons at Louisiana Tech, the Cedar Park (Texas) native transferred to play for the Bobcats ahead of the 2022 season.
In his three years at Texas State, Bell tallied 95 tackles — including 25 for loss — as well as 15.5 sacks. In 2024, Bell appeared in only four games before sitting out to preserve the year’s eligibility.
Star Thomas – Duke RB – committed to Tennessee
Louisiana native Star Thomas enlisted his name in the transfer portal with one year of college football left to play. Thomas spent one year at Duke in 2024, rushing for 871 yards on 213 carries while also catching for 153 yards and a touchdown in the passing game.
Prior to becoming a Blue Devil, the 6-foot-0, 210-pound back began his career at Coffeyville Community College, which led to a commitment to New Mexico State, where Thomas played from 2022-2023. He was named a second-team All-Conference USA player in 2023 before taking his talents to Durham in 2024.
Lucas Carneiro – Western Kentucky K – Committed to Ole Miss
Ole Miss received a commitment December 23 from Lucas Carneiro, the CUSA Special Teams Player of the Year. Carneiro has been clutch all season and hit the game-winning 50-yard field goal to punch WKU’s ticket to the 2024 CUSA Championship Game. He tallied a season-high 14 points in a 44-17 win over UTEP, converting all five extra-point attempts and three field goals, including a season-long 54-yarder that tied the school’s second-longest mark.
Carneiro made 18-of-19 field goals this season and connected on all 41 of his extra-point attempts. The North Carolina native made 18 consecutive field goals, breaking the WKU record, and made all three of his field-goal tries from beyond 50-plus yards.
Deuce Alexander – Wake Forest WR – Committed to Ole Miss
Wake Forest transfer WR Deuce Alexander arrived in Oxford for an official visit Saturday, and by Sunday he committed. The 6-foot-0, 175-pound speedster had a strong 2024 season with the Demon Deacons, notching 36 receptions for 400 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 11.1 yards per catch.
He was dependable in 2024, only dropping the ball 3 times, according to PFF, as he lined up in the slot position approximately 80 percent of his time on the field. He tallied 15 catches for 20+ yards or more on the season.
The Douglassville, Georgia native was a 3-star prospect in the class of 2023, and he will have three years of eligibility remaining after redshirting at Wake in 2023. As a high school recruit, Alexander had offers from Wisconsin, Georgia Tech, Tulane, Temple, UNLV and others.
Since entering the transfer portal, Alexander heard from: Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Auburn, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Stanford, Duke, Wisconsin, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville, and others.
Sage Ryan – LSU S – Committed to Ole Miss 12/20
The LSU transfer Sage Ryan is visiting Ole Miss on Friday, December 20th, following four years with LSU. In 2024, the 5-foot-11 safety totaled 41 tackles, an interception, two forced fumbles, and a sack for the Tigers. When Ole Miss played LSU in Death Valley, Ryan tallied a pass deflection along with five total tackles on the Rebs.
Ryan is a 4.4 40-yard dash runner and brings a high level of athleticism to the football field. Despite playing numerous positions in the secondary at LSU, you could expect the Louisiana native to fill the role of Trey Washington and John Saunders at safety if he were to come to the Sip.
Andrew Jones – Grambling State LB – Committed to Ole Miss 12/20
It’s been reported by On3 Sports that Grambling State linebacker Andrew Jones is in Oxford on Friday, December 20th, just one day after he committed to South Carolina. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker is a coveted prospect, recording over 100 tackles and 20 tackles for loss this past season.
His impressive performances earned him the Southwestern Atlantic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year award and a spot on the SWAC All-American team. With one year of eligibility, time will tell whether Jones spends it in Columbia, South Carolina, or Oxford, Mississippi.
Tahj Chambers – Missouri State linebacker – Committed to Ole Miss
Missouri State linebacker Tahj Chambers is in Oxford today, Thursday, for an official visit. He’s a former Arlington (Texas) Grace Prep Academy player who played wide receiver and linebacker while in high school.
Chambers is an All-MVFC Conference player for Missouri State, where he notched 88 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in the 2024 season.
Over the course of his time with Missouri State, Chambers has been a three-year starter, amassing 196 total career tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three sacks, eight quarterback hurries, and two interceptions. He was also a team captain for the Bears in 2024.
Caleb Odom – Alabama WR – Committed to Ole Miss 12/18
Caleb Odom announced his commitment to Ole Miss Wednesday evening. He entered the portal after spending his freshman season with the Alabama Crimson Tide. The former five-star was heavily involved with Ole Miss during his recruitment, putting Lane Kiffin’s staff in a strong position to target the receiver.
The 6-foot-5, 227-pound Odom will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 225 pounds, Odom is not only efficient in the pass attack but also in the run game. His position coach who helped recruit him to Alabama was Joe Cox — who is now on the Ole Miss staff. Great pickup for Lane Kiffin and staff!
De’Zhaun Stribling – Oklahoma State WR – Committed to Ole Miss 12/17
Stribling, who visited Ole Miss December 15, started his college career at Washington State and he ended up transferring to Oklahoma State before the start of his junior year in 2023. Despite getting injured his first season with the Cowboys, the 6-foot-2 receiver hauled in 52 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns in 2024.
Stribling visited Ole Miss the weekend of December 14th, proving mutual interest between him and the Rebels. With Lane Kiffin losing a high volume of skill players, expect Stribling to make a vital impact in the 2025 offense.
Kewan Lacy – Missouri RB – Committed to Ole Miss 12/16
The 6-foot, 205-pound Lacy entered the transfer portal Monday and will have three years of eligibility remaining. He was set to play a featured role in Missouri’s lineup next season.
He was behind an upperclassman on the Tigers’ roster, but Lacy showed a lot of promise when on the field in 2024. He carried the ball 22 times for 99 yards, for a 4.5 yard per carry average. Against South Carolina, he rushed for back-to-back first downs to set up a touchdown for the Tigers.
Lacy played high school for Lancaster (Texas) and also ran track and field. He was a four-star recruit and was ranked the No. 16 running back in the nation. He decommitted from Nebraska before choosing Missouri. As recorded on the Dallas Morning News website, Lacy finished his senior year with 1,513 yards and 19 touchdowns as a running back. On the receiving end, he caught 17 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
Princewill Umanmielen – Nebraska LB – Committed to Ole Miss 12/14
Princewill Umanmielen, the brother of Ole Miss defensive lineman Princely Umanmielen, entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility after spending the early years of his college career with Nebraska. He has now committed to the Rebels and will look to have the same success as his older brother.
Similar to Princely, Princewill is 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, and is a disruptive defensive player. Over his last two seasons with the Cornhuskers, the linebacker recorded 35 total tackles and 1.5 sacks, being a crucial part of their defense.
We knew defensive coordinator Pete Golding and defensive line coach Randall Joyner would do everything in their power to establish a relationship with Princewill — and it seems it worked. It’s also important to understand that he just watched his brother turn into a possible first-round pick after one season with Ole Miss.
Luke Hasz – Arkansas TE – Committed to Ole Miss 12/14
The tight end out of Arkansas plans to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility following an impressive 2024 season, consisting of four touchdowns and 324 yards on 26 receptions. When the Razorbacks faced the Rebels, Hasz’s capabilities were perfectly displayed, as he caught for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Being from Bixby, Oklahoma, could the Sooners be a favorite for Hasz? Currently, Hasz was visiting LSU Tuesday night, Alabama on Thursday, and Ole Miss on Friday. With the departure of Caden Prieskorn, you can expect Lane Kiffin and staff to do everything in their power to land the sophomore — as will the other schools looking to land the talented TE.
Jaylon Braxton – Arkansas DB – Committed to Ole Miss 12/13
Jaylon Braxton visited Ole Miss this week, and liked what he saw. On Friday night, he committed to Ole Miss. He only played in two games this season due to injury, but he’s a very talented player the Rebels are excited to get. Prior to getting hurt, Braxton was a freshman All-SEC honorable mention in 2023, tallying 21 total tackles, eight pass deflections, and an interception. During his time at Arkansas, Braxton was also teammates with Pooh Paul, the current Ole Miss linebacker.
With the departure of several starting players in the secondary, Pete Golding will consistently be looking for guys who can come in and start, similar to Braxton.
Patrick Kutas – Arkansas OL – Committed to Ole Miss 12/13
The 6-foot-5 313-pound Arkansa transfer interior offensive lineman has now committed to Ole Miss. He visited Ole Miss on December 11 and obviously enjoyed his time in Oxford. Kutas is a Memphis native who attended Christian Brothers High School. He will have two season of eligibility remaining.
Coming out of high school, Kutas was ranked the No. 10 interior offensive lineman in the country and the No. 10 player at any position in the state of Tennessee. He suffered an injury in preseason fall camp, but was finally able to return in the Hogs’ eighth game of the season, coming against Mississippi State on October 26.
PJ Wilkins – Charlotte OL – Committed to Ole Miss 12/12
The 6-foot-7, 340-pound offensive lineman, who entered the portal with three years of eligibility to play, has committed to Ole Miss. In a majority of his film, Wilkins has been seen as a left guard but it’s worth pointing out he could also slide outside to play tackle due to his incredible frame.
In other interesting news, Wilkins is also directly related to Dominique Wilkins and Gerald Wilkins, two former NBA players. Looking at his recruitment, Wilkins informed The Rebel Walk that he’s looking for “great” culture and a “family-oriented” team. So far, schools like Illinois, Memphis, Ole Miss, and Cincinnati are in pursuit of the glass eater.
Da’Shawn Womack – LSU EDGE – Committed to Ole Miss 12/12
LSU’s 6-foot-5, 260-pound EDGE announced his intent to enter the portal earlier this week committed shortly after taking a visit.
Womack will have two years of eligibility remaining after playing two seasons for LSU. He’s a former five-star recruit out of St. Frances High School in Baltimore, where he was ranked No. 42 in the nation in the 2023 class. As a freshman, he played in all 12 of the Tigers’ games in 2023 and notched 13 tackles. He played in eight games in 2024.
Delano Townsend – UAB OL – Committed to Ole Miss
Ole Miss hosted UAB offensive lineman Delano Townsend this Friday and Saturday, offering him when he entered the transfer portal. The Flint, Michigan native, a guard, played in all 12 games for UAB this past season.
Townsend is 6-foot-4, 300 pounds and was a three-star prospect in the class of 2023 at Hamady Community High School. He was ranked the overall No. 40 player in the state of Michigan in his class. He also holds offers from Kansas, Arkansas and Mississippi State.
Antonio Kite – Auburn S – Committed to Ole Miss 12/17/24
Kite took an official visit to Ole Miss last week before committing Tuesday, December 17. He was a four-star recruit coming out of Anniston (Alabama) High School and was ranked as the No. 13 safety nationally and the No. 8 overall player in Alabama in the 2022 class.
Before playing for Auburn, Kite was with Alabama, signing with the Tide in the class of 2022. He transferred to Auburn after two seasons in Tuscaloosa, before now landing in Oxford.
