Lane Kiffin confirms JUCO transfer Deion Smith won't join Ole Miss roster in 2024 season

Deion Smith has been working to get eligible for the Ole Miss Rebels, hoping to contribute during the 2024 season. Reports have conflicted on the wide receiver’s status over the past few weeks. Until Wednesday, we had not heard anything official from Lane Kiffin.

Unfortunately, Kiffin delivered bad news regarding Smith during the SEC Coaches Teleconference. Smith will not be a part of Ole Miss’ team this season. Kiffin added he wished the situation would have worked out and wished Smith moving forward.

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“Today, I was told that he will not be part of our program,” Kiffin said. “So, seems to be the case. Wish him the best of luck, wish it would have worked out. That’s all I got.”

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Smith was once the No. 1 overall player coming out of JUCO, playing for Holmes Community College. His career began in Baton Rouge with the LSU Tigers, spending two years under Ed Orgeron.

After hitting the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, the Rebels signed the wide receiver. At the time, the likes of Auburn, Mississippi State, Purdue, and Utah were after him.

However, Smith will wind up never playing a snap for Ole Miss. The process began back in December and the fight to gain eligibility began. It lasted for nearly nine months and ultimately resulted in a disappointing decision for Kiffin and everyone involved in the program.

Smith has six games of SEC experience, with all occurring during the 2021 season. The then-LSU wideout caught 11 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 16.9 yards per reception.

Kiffin was hoping to add his production to what is an already loaded Ole Miss wide receiver room. Tre Harris is back and Juice Wells is in his first season in Oxford. Both are also portal additions for the Rebels and project to be one of the SEC’s top one-two duos.

Ole Miss begins their season on Saturday, going up against Furman. Huge expectations are ahead of Kiffin, especially on the offensive end with Jaxson Dart returning for a third season. And while Smith was originally a part of the 2024 plan, the Rebels will have to move forward without him beginning at 6 p.m. CT at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.