Why having veteran players at Ole Miss will be key in 2024

Under head coach Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss Rebels have become a formidable foe on the field, especially in the last two seasons. There has been a critical reason for their recent run of success. While the Rebels do not bring in elite recruiting classes similar to the likes of the Georgia’s and Alabama’s of the college football world, they have been acquiring quality players from across the country courtesy of the NCAA Transfer Portal.

On a recent episode of the Andy Staples On3 podcast, the college football expert brought on an individual close to the Ole Miss football program, OM Spirit’s Zach Berry, to help shine some light on Kiffin’s secret to success in the transfer portal. And according to Berry, while five-star recruits are great, the Rebels’ headman prioritizes experience and overall fit when evaluating potential transfer recruits.

“That was a theme this year for Ole Miss. Jaxson Dart, you know, second year in the system; Quinshon Judkins, second year in the system. [Jordan] Watkins will be a third-year guy next year for Ole Miss,” said Berry.

“They [have] guys have just played a lot of football to where it’s not, ‘Hey, you were a five-star, but you’ve only played in two games on special teams.”

Berry’s point is not to throw shade at or scoff at individuals who were highly recruited coming out of high school. There is a reason why those individuals are at the top of nearly every program in the country’s recruiting board. However, their lack of reps typically plays a significant factor for most individuals when, it comes to performing on the field. And unfortunately, college football, especially in the SEC, is a ‘win now’ game. That is why Kiffin likes his transfer portal recruits a little more on the mature side.

“Sometimes those guys are great, and sometimes they work out where they go. But Ole Miss is kind of going for the model of, ‘We need a proven commodity to add to this equation.’ So that’s been the recipe for success so far for Ole Miss. I think that they’re going to continue to do that with who they look to add in the tail end of this portal window and then going into the spring.”

There will be another transfer portal window, which will be open shortly after spring games take place. And if there is anything Kiffin does not like coming out of the spring, over like to fire in tune, all bets are on the Rebels headman scouting talented veterans in the transfer portal that fit his scheme and who can help Ole Miss be in the running for a playoff spot in 2024.