Competition and Kickoffs: What Ole Miss WR Traylon Ray Had to Say Post-Practice
OXFORD, Miss. – As the Rebels wrapped up their first week of fall camp, West Virginia transfer wide receiver Traylon Ray spoke to the media after a nice showing during his first few practices in Oxford. With a goal to be great, here’s what Ray had to say.
What made Ole Miss stand out?
“I just wanted to go somewhere where they threw the ball a lot, just more heavy on their receivers. Ole Miss was perfect for that with their history, and watching them a little bit last year.”
Ole Miss WR Traylon Ray
He then went on to answer a question about the role that new starting quarterback Austin Simmons played in his decision, to which he responded that he’s one of “the next best quarterbacks.”
A receiver’s faith in the quarterback is essential if both the receiver and the quarterback want to be successful, and it seems as if that relationship has already been established.
If the relationship has already been established between Simmons and the entire receiving corps, then the Ole Miss offense could be unstoppable, given the time they have to grow together.
Also, if the Rebels can continue to develop a brand and history that is known for a successful pass-heavy offense, something that contributed to his move to Mississippi, then the likelihood of securing recruits to maintain that image only increases.
How strong is the receiver room, really?
“We just have different talent everywhere, we got speedsters, we got guys that can go up and make the catch, we got guys that are good with the ball in their hand. I feel like we got a good combination of everything in our receiver room.”
Traylon Ray on Ole Miss WRs
Ray is one of the talented wide receivers who were brought in by means of the transfer portal over the offseason. One of those, Alabama transfer Caleb Odom, now could see more time at tight end following the injury to transfer TE Luke Hasz. But, Ole Miss also brought in Oklahoma State transfer De’Zhaun Stribling, Penn State transfer Harrison Wallace III, and Wake Forest transfer Deuce Alexander.
All of these guys, including Odom, have limitless potential. These are guys that stood out at their former schools and needed to find somewhere else to reach their next level. Well, the answer was in Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels.
Although it’ll be a new quarterback leading the offense this year, the confidence inside the locker room is quite high.
Kickoffs and competition
After receiving the lone kickoff during practice, Ray was asked what he expects his role to be concerning kickoffs come the regular season.
“I plan on trying to be the main kickoff returner,” Ray said. “Just because it’ll look better trying to get drafted.”
Although his main focus may be on his future in the NFL, he will provide a valuable skill set and ability as a returner that Ole Miss fans with a focus on the 2025 season will appreciate.
Ray is shifty with good hands, able to make plays in the blink of an eye. If he can utilize these skills, he will be very successful in the SEC, which he said was “the best conference.”
In a conference like the SEC, the competition is high, and the opponents are tough. It’s where some of the best go to compete against each other. If Ray and the offense as a whole can be among the best in the SEC, and there’s no reason they will not, there’s no limit to how successful the 2025 season could be for the Rebels.
Noah Scoggins
Noah is from Killeen, Texas, and graduated from Early College High School. He grew up in the Birmingham, Alabama, area and is now a second-year senior at the University of Alabama and will graduate in the spring. He is currently majoring in news media with a focus in sports media, as well as a minor in criminal justice. Noah has always loved and been passionate about college athletics and wants to share his love for sports.
