Jacksonville State transfer DL Chris Hardie commits to Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin

Former Jacksonville State star defensive lineman Chris Hardie has committed to Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin out of the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Pete Nakos reports. Hardie visited Oxford earlier this month month.

The fifth-year player and multi-year starter has racked up 48 career game appearances and has been an active presence along the defensive line for the Gamecocks for the past four seasons.

He totaled 61 tackles, 16 TFLs and 8.5 sacks in 2023. For his efforts, Hardie was honored as a 2023 first-team All-CUSA selection as a defensive lineman and developed into one of the top defenders in the entire league.

Over the course of his career, Hardie has logged 162 tackles, 46.5 tackles for a loss, 21.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two passes defended and an interception.

Prior to enrolling at Jacksonville State, Chris Hardie was ranked as a three-star prospect by On3. He did not have an On3 Industry Ranking, as not enough major scouting services provided a grade or evaluation on him. The On3 Industry Ranking is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.

The Rebels could be a top SEC squad in 2024

Ole Miss certainly makes a case as an offseason winner, which is why expectations are high for next season in The ‘Sip. Greg McElroy agrees with those thoughts based on how he is viewing the Rebels going into the fall.

Out of 10, McElroy put it at a seven that Ole Miss would be top-three in the Southeastern Conference. That labels it as likely to him in 2024 with how his rating worked.

“I’m going to say the probability is a seven,” said McElroy on ‘Always College Football’.

“Now, like I said, 10 is a lock. Nine – highly likely, eight – very likely,” McElroy explained. “Seven? Likely. I think it’s likely that they’re a top-three team in the SEC.”

That would rank them somewhere in the range of fourth through sixth in the league for McElroy. He still has three teams ahead of them for now with Ole Miss being in that category below

“Top-three in the SEC? A top-three that I think is probably going to be determined by Alabama and Georgia, who are likely going to be in the top-three. Then you have Texas – likely going to be in the top-three,” McElroy read off. “Then you have the outsiders of those top-three that could make a move, whether it’s Tennessee, Missouri, Ole Miss. I think those three teams are kind of vying to offset one of those top-three teams that is established and maybe knock them down a rank.”