BOOM! Pete Golding, Ole Miss Add Proven SEC Production with Florida Transfer DB Sharif Denson
by Evelyn Van Pelt | Jan 4, 2026 | Football |
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss landed a significant addition to its defense out of the transfer portal on Sunday, as former Florida defensive back Sharif Denson committed to the Rebels, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
Denson arrives in Oxford as one of the more productive defensive backs available this cycle, bringing both experience and tangible on-field results from his time with the Florida Gators. Over his career in Gainesville, Denson totaled 95 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble, showcasing his ability to impact games in multiple ways.
His most consistent season came in 2025, when Denson posted 53 tackles and two tackles for loss, serving as a steady presence in the Gators’ secondary. That followed a breakout 2024 campaign in which he recorded 37 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and his first career interception, flashing both range and physicality near the line of scrimmage.
That versatility is what makes Denson an intriguing fit for Pete Golding’s defensive vision. Denson has shown the ability to play downhill, support the run, pressure quarterbacks, and hold his own in coverage — traits that align with a defense that asks its secondary to do more than just cover space.
Before arriving at Florida, Denson was a four-star prospect out of Jacksonville (Fla.) Bartram Trail High School, where he was regarded as one of the top defensive back prospects in the state. That pedigree, paired with SEC development and production, gives Ole Miss a defender who has already been tested at the highest level.
For the Rebels, the addition checks several important boxes: experience, physicality, and proven production against elite competition. As Ole Miss continues to build depth and flexibility on the back end, Denson enters the mix as a player capable of competing for immediate snaps while also raising the floor of the room.
It’s another strong portal move for a program intent on pairing its offensive firepower with a defense that can hold up in the SEC — and Sharif Denson brings both the résumé and the edge to help make that happen.
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Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
