Former Ole Miss WR Cayden Lee Commits to Missouri via Transfer Portal
by Evelyn Van Pelt | Jan 24, 2026 | Football |
OXFORD, Miss. — Back on the opening day of the transfer portal, Mizzou landed Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons. Almost three weeks later, a No. 1 wide receiver that he already knows quite well has committed to join him as Rebel wideout Cayden Lee announced he is transferring to Missouri.
Lee, who entered the portal January 17, leaves Ole Miss as one of the most productive pass catchers available in the portal. A four-star transfer according to 247Sports, he checks in as the No. 26 wide receiver and No. 113 overall prospect in the portal rankings. Among Missouri’s incoming transfers, only Simmons grades out higher.
When Lee entered the portal, he posted this message on social media:
Over three seasons with the Rebels, Lee built a résumé defined by consistency and reliability. He appeared in 38 games, hauling in 106 receptions for 1,623 yards and seven touchdowns, often serving as Ole Miss’ primary option in key moments. While his statistical connection with Simmons on the field was limited due to circumstance, their relationship off it has long been foundational.
The two entered college together as members of Ole Miss’ 2023 recruiting class, forming a bond that extended beyond position rooms and practice fields. Lee, a Kennesaw, Georgia native, and Simmons, a Florida product, have frequently described their relationship as closer than most teammates.
Now reunited in Columbia, Simmons is widely expected to take over as Missouri’s starting quarterback in 2026 after entering the portal with a no-contact designation — a move that signaled his destination well in advance. Lee steps into a Tigers receiver room where his career production immediately separates him from the pack, as he brings four times the receiving yardage of any returning Missouri wideout.
For Missouri, the pairing represents continuity, chemistry, and proven output. For Simmons and Lee, it’s a chance to pick up a partnership that never really stopped — just changed addresses.
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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
