Rebel Roundabout: Wright’s proven a ‘really good’ tight end for Ole Miss to pair with Prieskorn

Ole Miss signed the No. 3 football portal class in the country during the 2023-24 window, according to On3.

The Rebels went with quality over quantity. Ole Miss still had the sixth-most transfers (25) added. But Colorado and Louisville, the only teams ranked ahead of them, brought in 41 and 31, respectively.

Walter Nolen (defensive tackle, Texas A&M) and Princely Umanmielen (EDGE, Florida) were Top 10 transfers. Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul was the No. 1 linebacker in the portal. Antwane ‘Juice’ Well was the No. 1 wide receiver.

Cornerback Trey Amos preferred Ole Miss to Alabama for a 2024 title chase. Safety Key Lawrence left Oklahoma. Houston corner Isaiah Hamilton took up with the Rebels over a host of other national contenders.

But not to be forgotten was the sneaky-impressive value Ole Miss mined in the margins. 

The Rebels sought experienced depth behind star tight end Caden Prieskorn at tight end, especially after Michael Trigg, Jayvontay Conner and Kyirin Heath transferred out. 

Injury-riddled reserve Hudson Wolfe is back, but Virginia Tech’s Dae’Quan Wright was signed as Prieskorn’s primary compliment.

“He’s a really good player,” Prieskorn said this week on the ‘Ivey League,’ hosted by his Rebel teammate, Jared Ivey. Wright is PFF’s No. 4 highest-graded tight end in college football. Prieskorn is No. 7.

“He’s played, so he adds more experience to the room. He was a little banged up in the spring, but he’s back fully healthy and doing really good in workouts. I’m excited.”

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Wright enrolled in January and went through spring practices in a black, no-contact jersey. 

Wright started all 12 games for the Hokies last season. He’s a former On3 three-or-four-star prospect, depending on service. He was ranked as the No. 155 player in the 2022 class, as well as the No. 7 tight end.

“(Wright’s) an experienced player,” fifth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said. “I think led the ACC in tight-end catches even. That’s really good, obviously. 

“That’s a key, to me, in becoming an elite team that stays there instead of, like, ‘Oh, you have a run one year and then you’re back down for two or three.’ It’s important to have depth like that. You’re going to have seasons where things don’t go your way and you get some injuries and some bad breaks. 

“In order to survive those, you better have depth.”

SUBER MAKES THE CUT AT U.S. OPEN

Former Ole Miss golfer Jackson Suber wasn’t able to maintain his Top 10 pace in the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday. 

But Suber still made the cut, his first in a PGA Tour event for his career. Suber — the last player named to the field, as an alternate — is sitting at +2. He’s tied for 27th.

Suber was a two-time PING All-American at Ole Miss. He tallied the second-highest season stroke average (69.77) in program history. Suber led the Rebels to the second-best all-time finish (14th) in program history at the 2022 NCAA Championships.

Suber tees off in the third round on Saturday (June 15, 2024) morning.

HONORS KEEP ROLLING IN FOR OLE MISS TRACK AND FIELD

McKenzie Long was named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week on Friday. 

Long wrapped her legendary Ole Miss career with three national titles last week at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She’s the second Rebel to earn the honor this season. Jalani Davis is the other. 

Elsewhere, freshman Akaoma Odeluga secured her spot on Team USA for the upcoming World U20 Championships. Odeluga won silver in the shot put at the U.S. U20 Championships. 

Odeluga is the current world U20 leader in the shot put. She was the SEC Outdoor bronze medalist following her 18.11m/59-5 toss, the second-best in U.S. history. Another former Rebel, Raven Saunders, holds the record (18.62m/61-01.25). 

The World U20 Championships will run from August 27-31 in Lima, Peru.