Ole Miss running back Makhi Frazier looks forward to 2026 season with Rebels: ‘I think it is the best room in the country’
OXFORD, Miss. — Junior running back Makhi Frazier met with the media Monday as the Rebels are in their final week of spring drills.
Frazier came into the Ole Miss program after playing his first two seasons at Michigan State. The desire to play in the SEC has been longstanding for him.
“I grew up watching SEC football my whole life. I always wanted to be a part of it, then being able to come to a program like Ole Miss and being able to elevate my game and help me get better with guys in the room like Kewan (Lacy), and go off him, and embrace the opportunity I have every day.”
Makhi Frazier
Frazier has been around Lacy during spring camp and has seen him excel on the gridiron.
“The extra work that he does every day and the attention to detail that he pays to like everything he does,” Frazier said.
“Being able to see him work helps me get better every single day and helps me want to do extra stuff.”
Frazier on Kewan Lacy’s impact
During his time with the Spartans, Frazier played in 18 games, with 7 starts, and led Michigan State with 541 yards rushing on 123 touches, with 2 touchdowns. Out of the backfield, he tallied 13 receptions for 37 yards.
This season, Ole Miss has a new running back coach, Frank Wilson, who returns to the Rebels coaching staff after being at LSU. Wilson was last in Oxford in 2005-07.
“(Wilson) brings the extra detail and he pays attention to everything,” Frazier said. “Your footwork, like your eyes, like what you are looking at. With him, just make sure you pay attention to the details of everything you do.”
In addition to Lacy, the Rebels’ running back room is definitely filled with talent coming into the 2026 season. Besides Frazier, Ole Miss added Joshua Dye (Southern Utah) and JT Lindsey (LSU) from the NCAA Transfer Portal. Shekai Mills-Knight also returns for his second Ole Miss season.
“I think it is the best room in the country. All the guys are really good. Every day, it’s good to see who wants to be consistent, and we show up to compete, see who can do the best, and push each other.”
Makhi Frazier
Each back has their own running style to bring to the program, and Frazier’s is considered downhill. “It’s a physical aspect to my game,” he explained.
Frazier watched as the Rebels made the deep playoff run to the Fiesta Bowl against Miami last season and saw Trinidad Chambliss and Lacy play.
“It’s been pretty cool, watching it and now actually being a part of it, part of the process of trying to go win it all,” Frazier said. “It’s different. Seeing those guys on TV and now seeing how they work behind the scenes, it’s been cool.”
Frazier and the Rebels open the 2026 season in Music City against Louisville on Sept. 6. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. The game will air on ABC.
Adam Brown
Adam Brown returns to The Rebel Walk after being on the Ole Miss beat as a Sports Editor for over 13 years. He is a lifelong Oxford resident. Brown graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Prior to The Rebel Walk, Brown was the sports editor of HottyToddy.com covering every Ole Miss sport and local high school sports in the community.
