Cunningham to rock No. 3, Chambliss gets 6 in Ole Miss jersey update

Ole Miss football on Tuesday released jersey numbers for summer transfers and true freshmen signees.

The Rebels were aggressive in the NCAA Transfer Portal after spring practices. Among the additions was a pair of quarterbacks in Trinidad Chambliss and Maealiuaki Smith, as well as running back Damien Taylor and cornerbacks Ricky Fletcher and Tavoy Feagin. 

Chambliss is from Division ll Ferris State and last season threw for 2,925 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,019 yards and 25 touchdowns, which could help Chambliss quickly carve out a role behind first-year starter Austin Simmons.

Smith started two games for Oklahoma State.

“There’s been a lot of changes to the quarterback room,” Simmons said in a one-on-one with the Ole Miss Spirit. “We’re just going to to have to wait until fall camp to really make a judgment on that. At the end of the day the coaches are going to do their job and put us in the best position as far as the depth chart and making sure we have all the tools we need going into the season.”

Chambliss is wearing No. 6 and Smith No. 17. 

Fletcher, from South Alabama, took No. 9, which was worn by one-year All-American cornerback Trey Amos in 2024-25. Amos was a second-round NFL Draft selection of the Washington Commanders. Feagin is No. 21.

Taylor is No. 12, while ULM safety Wydett Williams is No. 16. Auburn’s Antonio Kite signed in the winter portal window but only recently made it to campus. He has positional versatility, but Ole Miss is starting him out at corner. Maryland offensive lineman Terez Davis could push to start. He’s No. 55.

“I definitely feel like I fit the offense pretty well,” Taylor said. 

Jersey numbers are in for the newest Rebs‼️

Summer transfer signees + true freshmen signees#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/KahkoaOQN9

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) June 17, 2025

Taylor rushed for 1,010 yards on 173 carries as a Troy Trojan last season.

He scored seven touchdowns. Taylor has the fourth-highest returning grade of all SEC running backs, according to Pro Football Focus. He averaged 84.2 yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry. 

Taylor, continued: “I complement them in the schemes they want to run and their visions, and to complement the other players in my position group, and in the offense as a whole.”

5-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham was given No. 3, just like he wore in high school as Mississippi’s top recruit in 2025. 4-star running back Shekai Mills-Knight is No. 24, taking over a number popularized by now-former Ole Miss running back Ulysses Bentley, IV. Bentley, IV, signed with the Indianapolis Colts after the draft.

Mills-Knight was ranked as the nation’s No. 145 overall player, as well as the No. 9 running back. Mills-Knight as a high-school senior won the Division II Class AAA Championship with Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was a three-time league MVP. 

Mills-Knight rushed for 1,113 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. 

“I think he’s got tremendous upside,” sixth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said. “Big, physical running back, which we missed this year not having. As you re-look at the year, that was a big difference. A lot of critical situations where big guys fall forward and make some extra yards. We had to go to a defensive tackle (JJ Pegues) in those situations. We have high hopes for him.”

NEW OLE MISS JERSEY ASSIGNMENTS

Caleb Cunningham — 3
Trinidad Chambliss — 6
Ricky Fletcher — 9
Damien Taylor — 12
Winston Watkins — 16
Wydett Williams — 16
Maealiuaki Smith — 17
MJ Preston — 19
Tavoy Feagin — 21
Jarcoby Hopson — 23
Shekai Mills-Knight — 24
Maison Dunn — 25
Dante Core — 28
Ladarian Clardy — 31
Antonio Kite — 33
Keon Young — 36
Cortez Thomas — 37
Talib Graham — 45
Kenneth Boston — 52
Terez Davis — 55
TJ Hedrick — 57
Connor Howes — 65
Devin Harper — 70
Hayden Bradley — 80
Samari Reed — 81
Dillon Alfred — 84
Corey Adams — 91
Andrew Maddox — 95
Corey Amos — 98