Skip to main content
ole-miss logo

Spring Practice Highlights: Crucial evaluation period for Ole Miss ahead of portal moves

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•about 10 hours•

SpiritBen

Screen Shot 2025-03-19 at 10.42.57 AM
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin (Photo credit: Ole Miss football/Instagram)

Lane Kiffin didn’t mince words when asked Tuesday following the first Ole Miss football practice of spring about the upcoming second portal window.

The Rebels are replacing 72 percent of their starting lineup. Little is settled as far as the depth chart, save for a handful of returners on both sides of the ball. 

The weeks ahead are about evaluation. Ole Miss signed the nation’s No. 2 transfer class, as well as a Top 20 high school class. But the Rebels aren’t done adding if the right opportunities present themselves.

Ole Miss is replacing all five member of its secondary, for example. The Rebels are among the finalists for North Alabama graduate transfer Ashaad Williams. 

“That’s what these practices are for,” Kiffin, who’s in his sixth season as Ole Miss head coach, said. “Like I said to the team, we’re in the NFL. We have to have these practices like OTA days and then there’s going to be a free agency. A lot will have to do with how they perform, whether we bring in other people or whether they’ll even be here. 

“I don’t like how that sounds, but that’s the way it is, with the benefit that the players wanted, which is well-deserved that they’re paid. Like pros that way that this whole thing’s become. 

“There’s nothing really college about it. It’s like the pros. You also get cut there, too. With every benefit has some cost, too.”

Still, while the entire roster is on notice, the immediate takeaways from Tuesday’s session were encouraging. 

Austin Simmons is the unquestioned QB1. Kiffin believes Missouri transfer running back Kewan Lacy “could be really elite.” Cayden Lee, the lone returner at wide receiver, is stepping up as a leader. 

But don’t just take our word for it. Included are highlights compiled by the Ole Miss Spirit during the limited viewing the media was allowed. The Rebels return to practice on Thursday. The spring is scheduled through April 19. Ole Miss is hosting ‘Meet the Rebels’ for the first time in six years in lieu of a traditional end-of-spring scrimmage.

Practice Report: Ole Miss opens Spring drills with a lot of new, and impressive, faces

You may also like