It’s almost comical looking back now at the fears of a mass exodus of Ole Miss football players following Lane Kiffin to LSU.
There’s a chance some will still end up in Baton Rogue with the Rebels ex-coach, but a vast majority are staying in Oxford. That number grew to 17 players on Friday when offensive lineman Patrick Kutas and defensive lineman Kam Franklin were announced as returning in 2026.
Patrick Kutas is staying HOME in 2026.@pwk54 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/t2uKKQVuvC
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) January 10, 2026
Kam Franklin is staying HOME in 2026.@KamarionFrankl1 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/qxRmHcQKWZ
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) January 10, 2026
Of the 17 returning Rebels, 10 were starting players for a team that advanced all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinal game. Here’s the full list of players whose returns have been announced:
- RB Kewan Lacy
- WR Deuce Alexander
- TE Caleb Odom
- TE Luke Hasz
- OL Devin Harper
- OL Patrick Kutas
- OL Brycen Sanders
- DL Will Echoles
- DL Jamarious Brown
- DL Princewill Umanmielen
- DL Kam Franklin
- LB Suntarine Perkins
- DB Antonio Kite
- DB Jaylon Braxton
- DB Ladarian Clardy
- P Oscar Bird
- K Lucas Carneiro
Kutas and Franklin were two of the most notable names yet to announce their future before the Fiesta Bowl against Miami. Kutas won the Kent Hull Trophy (Mississippi’s best college offensive lineman), and Franklin was the top-rated recruit out of Mississippi in the 2023 class.
Best lines in the SEC?
Their returns are big. Franklin will be back on a defensive line featuring Will Echoles and Princewill Umanmielen and transfer additions Michai Boireau (Florida) and Jeheim Oatis (Colorado). There are more dominos to fall, but that’ll be one of the SEC’s best defensive lines next season.
Kutas returning keeps the Rebels’ interior offensive line intact with Brycen Sanders already announced as returning and Delano Townsend back too. Ole Miss also landed one of the best offensive linemen in the transfer portal with LSU’s Carius Curne.
That leaves one spot left to fill, which could come from the transfer portal or one of the eight freshmen offensive line currently on the Rebels’ roster.
The QB Situation
We covered this in an previous article, but it’s worth mentioning again. Ole Miss is hosting former quarterback DJ Lagway and former Auburn quarterback Deuce Knight for visits this weekend in Oxford.
With Chambliss’ waiver being denied, and Simmons already signed elsewhere, the Rebels will look to sign multiple quarterbacks. Lagway has already committed to Baylor, but college football fans know what commitments really mean (not much). Knight has long been speculated as a future Rebel.
If Knight’s visit goes well, we could hear something later Saturday. It’d be surprising to hear anything solid about Lagway, though.
Ole Miss Transfer Portal
Incoming Rebels
- CB Jay Crawford (Auburn)
- LB Keaton Thomas (Baylor)
- EDGE Nelson Maldonado (Nevada)
- CB Sharif Denson (Florida)
- DL Michai Boireau (Florida)
- LB Chris Jones (Southern Miss)
- DL Jeheim Oatis (Colorado)
- OL Carius Curne (LSU)
Outgoing Rebels
- QB Austin Simmons (Missouri)
- RB Domonique Thomas
- OL PJ Wilkins
- WR Winston Watkins
- LB Jaden Yates
- CB Ricky Fletcher
