New Faces, Same Threat: Rebels’ Wide Receiver Corps Gearing Up for Explosive 2025 Season

OXFORD, Miss. — After sending three of the team’s top wide receivers to the NFL in April, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin faced the task of rebuilding one of the SEC’s most explosive position groups. Now, just over two months from kickoff, it appears the Rebels may have reloaded rather than rebuilt.

With a mix of proven transfers and rising underclassmen, the Ole Miss wide receiver room is expected to be one of the deepest in the country. Pro Football Focus ranked the unit No. 4 nationally in its early summer positional rankings.

The lone returning contributor from last year’s group, sophomore Cayden Lee, is expected to anchor the group. As a freshman in 2024, Lee recorded 57 receptions for 874 yards and became a reliable target in the slot. His chemistry with sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons was evident during spring practices, with Lee frequently working the middle of the field and moving the chains in scrimmage scenarios.

“Cayden brings consistency and high-level football IQ,” Kiffin said this spring.

Head coach Lane Kiffin on Cayden Lee

Transfer portal acquisitions

Ole Miss also made aggressive use of the transfer portal to shore up its roster, bringing in five wide receivers with Power Five experience.

Among the most notable additions is De’Zhaun Stribling, who transferred from Oklahoma State after posting 882 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season. At 6-foot-2, Stribling adds size and strong hands to the outside.

Joining him is former Penn State receiver Harrison Wallace III, a physical 6-foot-1 target who racked up over 700 yards in 2024. Early practices suggest that Wallace and Simmons are quickly developing chemistry.

Arguably the most intriguing portal pickup is Alabama transfer Caleb Odom. While only lightly used in Tuscaloosa, the 6-foot-4 sophomore brings impressive size and catching ability to the boundary.

Rounding out the veteran additions are Wake Forest’s Deuce Alexander, who offers versatility in the slot and special teams, and West Virginia’s Traylon Ray, a speedster who averaged over 15 yards per catch last season.

Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. on the WRs

High school additions

Kiffin also landed one of the top wide receiver high school classes in the nation. Headlining the group is Mississippi native and former Alabama commit Caleb Cunningham, widely regarded as a five-star talent with NFL potential.

He’s joined by playmakers Winston Watkins Jr., Dillon Alfred, and Samari Reed. While it’s unclear how much action the freshmen will see early, all four have been active in summer workouts and are hoping for as many reps as they can get.

Spring chemistry

Spring practices provided a glimpse of what to expect. Simmons, likely taking over following the record-setting career of Jaxson Dart, appeared comfortable working through progressions and targeting several receivers.

All five portal transfers took first-team reps during the final week of spring camp. According to team sources, the staff is confident the depth chart will remain fluid into fall, with several freshmen making strong cases to break into the rotation.

While bidding farewell to top receivers Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, and Juice Wells created a temporary void, Lane Kiffin appears to have addressed it quickly and effectively.

With Lee providing continuity, experienced transfers filling specialized roles, and talented freshmen waiting to contribute, the Rebels’ receiver room may be even more balanced than last year’s.

Lane Kiffin on the receivers room

If the chemistry continues to build between Simmons and his targets, Ole Miss could once again field one of the most dangerous aerial attacks in college football this fall, a recurring trend in Oxford since Kiffin took the helm as head coach in 2020.