OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss completed its first day of fall camp on Tuesday, and with head coach Lane Kiffin’s talk of increased competition, there are three freshmen that fans need to keep an eye on as the Rebels are just weeks out from the season.

Devin Harper, IOL

Harper, out of Shreveport, Louisiana, enters Oxford as the No. 6-ranked offensive lineman in the class of 2025, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 315 pounds.

The Ole Miss offensive line is currently in a good state, as Coach Kiffin brought in two transfers and now has two seniors with experience on the line. However, there are also two redshirt sophomores in UAB Transfer Delano Townsend and Brycen Sanders.

Success on the offensive side of the ball this year will heavily depend on how well the Rebels can run the ball, and they will need a strong offensive line to do so.

Although Harper is a freshman, there’s a high likelihood that he could see some action this season. There’s a reason he was ranked as a top-10 lineman in the country; his strength allows him to surprise defenders with heavy hands, knocking them back. However, his long arms also enable him to stretch and grab defenders, which plays a significant role in his ability to play tackle.

Fans will need to keep an eye on how Harper performs during fall camp, as he’ll likely play a significant role on the line, whether it’s sooner or later.

Maison Dunn, CB

Over the offseason, Ole Miss added three transfer cornerbacks to the secondary after losing a major piece in Trey Amos to the NFL Draft. Although the Rebels will now have four junior cornerbacks, it doesn’t mean that others won’t get a chance to shine.

When Maison Dunn was acquired in the 2025 recruiting class, he was ranked as a 4-star and as the No. 21-ranked cornerback. But don’t let the ranking speak for him, though; at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, this cornerback can make plays. 

In his senior year of high school, Dunn made 22 tackles by himself, 42 tackles in total, deflected 11 passes, and caught four interceptions. He also competed in track and field.

His speed pairs well with his vision, allowing him to track the ball effectively and make plays. He shows great ability to get downfield and stop the run, but also proves to be highly efficient at tracking the ball and getting in the right place to make a play.

If Dunn can prove that his high school skills can not just translate to college, but also improve over time, then he can quickly earn himself playing time and a position as a role player.

Shekai Mills-Knight, RB

Mills-Knight is entering an experienced running back room with Logan Diggs, Damien Taylor, Dominique Thomas, and Kewan Lacy in the picture.

The upperclassmen will be hard to beat out, no doubt, but Mills-Knight could make a case for some playing time in his freshman year. He is the running back of the future for the Rebels, that’s for sure.

As he helped his team win the high school Division II Class AAA Championship in 2024, he holds an even more impressive stat: he ran for 15 touchdowns and over 1,100 yards as a junior, all while dealing with an ankle injury that resulted in some missed games.

His frame gives him the potential to be one of the best running backs in college football, given his height of 6-foot-3. His weight of 220 pounds provides the physicality to fight through tackle attempts, while also being the shifty, explosive running back that he is.

When he sees a hole, he attacks it. His size allowed him to play outside linebacker in high school, but his 4.48 40-yard dash gives him surprising speed. 

Ole Miss fans shouldn’t be surprised if Mills Knight ends up seeing the field some this year as a freshman. But even if it takes a while for that role to develop, fans need to keep an eye on him through camp as the staff gets their first true look at his capabilities.