Ole Miss safety Keyshawn Lawrence announces decision to redshirt

Just a couple of days following the Ole Miss defeat to LSU, they have lost a contributor in the secondary. Safety Keyshawn Lawrence has announced his decision to redshirt as he will not play for the rest of the 2024 season. No clarification on his future was included in the tweet, whether it’s remaining with the Rebels or entering the NCAA transfer portal.

“Before yall think the worse lol,” Lawrence said via X. “I Red Shirted so I can play a complete year for my last opportunity of College ball. All Luv.”

Shortly after the tweet was sent out, On3’s Pete Nakos has confirmed Lawrence has left the program.

Lawrence has played in just for games this year, allowing him to redshirt. His latest appearance was on Oct. 5 against South Carolina. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding did not get the defensive back in there on Saturday against LSU. Now, Ole Miss will have to deal without him for their final five games.

Tennessee is where Lawrence’s career began, playing for the Vols in 2020. One season on Rocky Top was all for him though, moving to Oklahoma and being a key contributor in what turned out to be Lincoln Riley‘s final season in Norman. Lawrence stayed for the first two seasons of Brent Venables before entering the portal last offseason.

Over the five years Lawrence has been in college football, he has recorded 93 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, one sack, snagged an interception, forced six fumbles, and broke up 13 passes. Fifty games are on the resume, potentially being one of the more experienced players out there. Maybe another SEC program will come calling in what will be his fourth overall.

Lawrence played high school football at Nashville (TN) Ensworth, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 88 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.