Deantre Prince: Cornerback transfers are 'coming along pretty good' for Ole Miss

Ole Miss didn’t return much off the 2022 secondary, but one of the few players they did get back for this season is cornerback Deantre Prince, who recored 39 tackles and 11 pass breakups last season for the Rebels. He enters 2023 as the senior leader in the defensive back room, which is now flushed with new transfer additions, like much of the Ole Miss roster as a whole.

Given his terrific play last fall plus his status as veteran leader who’s actually been around the block in Oxford, Prince was an easy pick to bring to SEC Media Days in Nashville this past week. Of course, reporters wanted to know more about his less-proven teammates than the star DB himself. But when asked about the newcomers, Prince had nothing but rave reviews.

“They’re coming along pretty good,” he said. “They are very smart and big corners. Experienced, too. They’re very good in their conferences and their old teams.”

One big question for Prince and the entire secondary is how do they mesh together so quickly when they simply haven’t been able to share the field for very long.

“I mean, it’s all about just us when they come in, just making a bond with them, letting them know it’s a brotherhood,” says Prince. “You just have to get them in and make a brotherhood. Gotta do fun activities on the weekend and stay close-knit no matter where they’re from. Everybody comes from different backgrounds.”

Prince’s teammates in the defensive backfield aren’t the only newcomers on the defensive side of the ball, as the Rebels also changed defensive coordinators this offseason, adding former Alabama DC Pete Golding to head up their defense. Prince is also quite fond of his addition as well.

“(Pete Golding) brings more confidence,” Prince claims. He also says he just feels more confidence as a player this year, something Ole Miss and his junior college days have helped him with.

“Ole Miss has taught me to do a lot of things as a man,” Prince explained. “JUCO definitely changed my attitude. I feel very confident about every challenge we come across as a team this season.”

From Northeast Mississippi Community College to Ole Miss, Deantre Prince has certainly enjoyed a long and winding career. Hopefully he can put a cherry on top with a stellar sendoff season at the collegiate level. With their talent plus a vet like Prince, the Rebel secondary ought to be stout this fall.