Five Ole Miss transfers who could make day one impact

Ole Miss and head coach Lane Kiffin were once again extremely active in the portal this cycle. The Rebels have signed the 11th-ranked NCAA Transfer Portal class, per On3. Last year, Kiffin and Co. signed the No. 1-ranked class, headlined by Zach Evans, Jaxson Dart, Michael Trigg and Ladarius Tennison.

This year’s group consists of 22 transfers which has some instant impact potential for the 2023 season. The schedule is not exactly friendly for Ole Miss this fall, but some experienced and talented transfers could potentially be the difference between a 7-5 year and a 9-3 years.

Let’s take a look at five names to know for the season opener September 2 against Mercer.

Caden Prieskorn, tight end

The All-AAC and All-PFF First Team selection is coming off a banner year in the AAC where he had 48 receptions for 602 yards and seven touchdowns. The John Mackey Award semifinalist admits he didn’t have a destination in mind when he entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. But when Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin reached out it was an easy decision.

Ole Miss returns Trigg and Kyirin Heath at tight end this season. And it signed Jayvontay Conner in 2023. Prieskorn figures to be an integral part of the room moving forward, though, due to his size and playmaking ability. He is a more than capable piece to the run game as well, willing to put his hand in the dirt and move some bodies for returning starter and SEC rushing champ, Quinshon Judkins.

DeShawn Gaddie, cornerback

After committing in January and having to do some work in the classroom, North Texas cornerback DeShawn Gaddie has finally arrived. The NCAA Transfer Portal commit announced in May he was “back” and enrolled in classes.

Gaddie was a three-year starter for the Mean Green where he started at both safety and cornerback. He earned some All-Conference USA accolades in 2022 when he had 62 tackles, 13 pass breakups (tied for 13^th nationally) and forced two fumbles. Gaddie had 145 tackles, two interceptions, 21 pass breakups and four forced fumbles during his time in Denton, Tex. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

The college game has almost done a complete 180° since the early 2000’s. Now it’s all about tempo, stretching the field and scoring fast. Signees like Gaddie are the types of players Ole Miss needs if it wants to close out games in the SEC. West opponents like LSU and Auburn will be looking to challenge secondaries all season long and the Rebels will need an answer in one-on-one situations.

I expect him to compete alongside fellow transfer Zamari Walton for the starting cornerback spot opposite Deantre Prince.

Tre Harris, wide receiver

The former Biletnikoff Award watch list selection chose the Rebels and Lane Kiffin over notable offers from Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Indiana, Penn State, Minnesota, Mississippi State and West Virginia also extended offers. Harris arrived on campus at 205 pounds and figures to be a starter on the outside in Kiffin’s offense.

At Louisiana Tech, he brought in 40 passes for 562 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore and was named honorable mention All-Conference USA. As a junior, he was second on the team with 65 receptions but led the Bulldogs with 935 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Malik Heath and Jonathan Mingo will both be gone and the Rebels welcome back two inside receivers in Jordan Watkins and Dayton Wade. Kiffin’s offense was a bit bogged down in the red zone down the stretch, but the addition of someone like Harris who has elite size and ball skills would amplify their attack and then some.

UTEP wide receiver transfer Zakhari Franklin was another quality addition for the Rebels and should be a dude down the stretch. But from day one I expect Harris to be a certified DUDE.

Isaac Ukwu, EDGE

The last two seasons, Ukwu made 83 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, defended five passes and forced three fumbles. He sat out the 2019 and 2020 seasons with injuries.

The First Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection from Upper Marlboro, Md., was also a part of the MPSSAA 4A First Team All-State as a junior and senior in high school. Ukwu helped Dr. Henry Wise (Md.) win the 4A state championship in 2016 with a perfect 14-0 record.

Jared Ivey became a difference maker last year after breaking into the two-deep. The 6-foot-5, 265 pound prospect finished the 2022 season with 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Now he is being counted on as a leader in the room and a cornerstone member of Pete Golding‘s defense.

Ukwu seems poised to be what Ole Miss has been missing opposite the go-to guy off the edge. Ivey and Cedric Johnson should free up the James Madison defender to win one-on-one matchups.

Monty Montgomery, linebacker

The former four-star recruit out of Hutchison Community College (Kan.) was a member of the Cardinals’ 2017 class. Montgomery was the No. 197 recruit in the nation, the No. 17 linebacker and No. 49 recruit out of junior college.

2022 was Montgomery’s best of his four seasons at Louisville, making 70 total tackles, two pass deflections, six sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions. For his career in the ACC, the 5-foot-11, 220 pounder made 160 tackles and 15 sacks.

Montgomery brings a ton of Power 5 experience and a been there, done it attitude you need to be a difference maker in the trenches in the Southeastern Conference. Khari Coleman‘s status is uncertain now so the presence of Montgomery is big. Add in transfer Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, 2023 signees Suntarine Perkins and Skielar Mann and returner Jakivuan Brown and this unit is a potential strength for Golding.