Akelo Stone Transferring: Ole Miss DT hearing from Florida State, Michigan State and UNC
Sources confirmed to the Ole Miss Spirit on Friday veteran defensive tackle Akelo Stone is, indeed, transferring.
The Rebels are in their final week of spring football practices. Stone was absent on Thursday, but the Spirit’s Billy Embody heard Friday morning his departure wasn’t yet finalized. Ole Miss closes out the spring with a team-wide scrimmage on Saturday.
Stone, per sources, has heard from Florida State, Michigan State, UNC and other SEC schools. However, the SEC prohibits in-league transfers during the second portal window, which closes April 22. Stone graduates next week and is exercising his sixth season of college eligibility.
Stone played three seasons for Georgia Tech before transferring to Ole Miss for two more. He appeared in 11 games for the Rebels as a key reserve in 2024, finishing with 15 total tackles (six solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one QB hurry and a pass breakup.
Stone had three tackles, a half TFL and a QB hurry in 18 snaps in the Gator Bowl. Ole Miss whipped Duke, 52-20, to cap the third 10-win season in four years. The Rebels set school records for single-season sacks (52) and TFLs (120).
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The Rebels have since lost their entire starting defensive line.
Walter Nolen (tackle), Princely Umanmielen (EDGE) and Jared Ivey (end) have each received at least one first-round NFL Draft projection. Nolen and Umanmielen were All-Americans this season.
Stone started one of a possible 23 games in his time as a Rebel. He was Ole Miss’ third-highest-graded (77.2) defender in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. Stone was second-best (79.4) in run support and best among Ole Miss defensive linemen.
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Stone played 286 snaps across defense and special teams. He finished with 27 total tackles (12 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and a pass break-up. Stone’s 71.8 overall grade in 2024 was Top 15 on the team, even ranked ahead of starter Suntarine Perkins, who last season tied Umanmielen for the team lead in sacks (10.5).
Ole Miss is well-stocked along its defensive front despite all the losses. Perkins and fellow veterans Zxavian Harris and Jam Brown are all back. The Rebels are also high on, among others, second-year linemen William Echoles, a tackle, and Kam Franklin, an end.
Ole Miss signed a pair of Top 10 EDGE transfers in Da’Shawn Womack (LSU) and Princewill Umanmielen (Nebraska). Princewill is Princely’s younger brother.
“This Ole Miss team coming up, I think the coaches did a great job of filling in the positions that were needed,” Princely Umanmielen said last month. “Like me, I left the d-line, had a lot of guys leave, and I feel like (defensive line) coach (Randall) Joyner and (assistant) coach Lou (Spanos) did a good job of just reloading that room.
“We didn’t have a drop-off at quarterback. Austin Simmons is a great quarterback. I think they’ll have a great season next year.”
