Taylor Made: Lane Kiffin, Rebels Add Dynamic Troy Running Back to Loaded Roster
OXFORD, Miss. — We have seen how unstoppable the Rebels are when they catch fire — and right now, their recruiting trail is blazing. Ole Miss continues to host a wave of talented high school prospects and transfers, all eager to elevate the team ahead of summer workouts. And just when you thought the running back room couldn’t get any deeper, the Rebels have added another playmaker: Troy transfer Damien Taylor.
100% Locked🔒 #HottyToddy 🦈🔴 https://t.co/Qme60Nb9xu
— Damien Taylor (@_DamienTaylor) April 20, 2025
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A native of Northport, Alabama, Taylor arrives in Oxford with one year of eligibility remaining after a standout season with the Trojans. He rushed for 1,010 yards on 172 carries, averaging 84.2 yards per game and an impressive 5.8 yards per carry, while finding the end zone seven times. He also contributed in the passing game, catching seven passes for 28 yards and two receiving touchdowns — earning Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in the process.
Damien Taylor punches it in for 6️⃣!
3Q 9:44 | 🐺 23, ⚔️ 10#BattleReady | #OneTROY⚔️🏈 pic.twitter.com/2BbwyhS0AK
— Troy Trojans Football 8x⚔️ (@TroyTrojansFB) October 27, 2024
The Ole Miss running back room no longer has Ulysses Bentley IV, Henry Parrish and others. The Rebels do, however, return former LSU standout back Logan Diggs. The former Tiger is coming back from last season in Oxford where he spent the entirety recovering from a knee injury suffered in a January 2024 LSU bowl game. They’ll also have Missouri transfer Kewan Lacy who is expected to immediately step in and contribute and, in the summer, have the arrival of talented high school commit Shekai Mills-Knight.
With the Rebels’ running back room already brimming with talent, the addition of Taylor gives the unit even more firepower and experience. His versatility and production make him a valuable asset to a group that’s already among the best in the SEC.
Get ready, because the backfield just got even more dangerous with the addition of Taylor.
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Lee Ann is the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She is a veteran SEC sports journalist and NFL content writer. She is also the Sr. Editor for MESPORTS digital. Herring-Olvedo is a Brown University graduate who loves good cigars, good games, and a smooth glass of bourbon — not necessarily in that order.
