Patrick Kutas: Ole Miss had 'one of the best defenses' I played against last season
The transfer portal has created a lot of unique situations with players joining teams they once played against. Patrick Kutas and Ole Miss is just another one of those connections.
The former Arkansas offensive lineman played against the Rebels the last three seasons before hitting the December transfer window and then coming to Oxford.
This means he was lined up against the Ole Miss defensive line last season that boasted NFL talent with the likes of Walter Nolen, Jared Ivey, JJ Pegues and Princely Umanmielen. In that 63-31 rout by the Rebels Kutas faced what he viewed as one of the premiere defenses in the country in 2024.
“It was interesting,” Kutas said after Thursday’s practice. “They’re very explosive, strong. That was one of the best defenses we played all year. The stuff that they did, we couldn’t ever really figure them out. THey always had a blitz or some sort of stem, so sort of movement. It was fun.”
While Kutas looks back on it now and describes it as fun, it probably was not for him and the rest of the Razorbacks offensive line, giving up eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss on the day.
Fast forward five months and Kutas is now on the other side wearing the red and blue as part of the Ole Miss offensive line with Spring practices wrapping up next week.
Kutas is one of three former Arkansas players that now call Ole Miss home.
He is joined by tight end Luke Hasz and cornerback Jaylon Braxton. There was not a set plan for two or either all three to end up at the same school, it just happened that way.
When Kutas had committed Hasz informed him that Ole Miss was an upcoming visit for him. The rest was transfer portal history as they say.
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“We didn’t really have a plan to come to the same place. We were looking at similar schools, keeping in touch throughout the process,” Kutas said. “Then when I committed here I knew (Hasz) was coming on a visit. So I was like, ‘Awesome. Let me know if you have any questions or anything. I can help you out.’ Then he called me, I think it was that night, and told me ‘Hey man, I’m coming here.’ I was like, ‘Lets get this thing rolling.'”
Braxton has been a participant in Spring practice as he is still rehabbing an injury. Kutas is still high on his teammate and knows the Rebels defense will benefit.
“Jaylon, he’s going to be a great player,” Kutas said. “I’m really excited to see what he can do.”
When it comes to the offensive line, Kutas is one of four transfers and newcomers in the room. Delano Townsend, Percy Lewis and PJ Wilkins are also making moves during Spring trying to find their way in the two-deep depth chart.
Mixed in with a returning Diego Pounds, Jayden Williams and Brycen Sanders there is a lot of optimism exuding from Kutas when he talks about the potential of this offensive line come next season.
“I think this offensive line can be great,” Kutas said. “We got a bunch of great pieces. We’re getting a bunch of young guys reps right now. I think once we put it all together we can be something really special.”
