The 'defensive prestige' of Ole Miss is what brought safety Kapena Gushiken to Oxford
When asking the new transfers about why they choose Ole Miss nearly all of the players on side of the football have the same answer as Kapena Gushiken does.
The former Washington State safety has never been to the South and one of the reasons the Hawaiian native chose now to make his first trip to this part of the country was due to Pete Golding and the Rebels defense.
A common thread among defensive players making the move to Ole Miss either from another Southeastern Conference team or across the country has been the Rebels defensive coordinator and what his staff can do in terms of player development.
“I think it was just the coaches, the defensive prestige, I guess,” Gushiken said after Thursday’s practice. “The amount of success that they’ve had, I could see myself being a great fit. Just growing as a player on and off the field, increasing draft stock. The list goes on and on.”
What Golding has been able to do in terms of turning around the defense in the two years he has been at Ole Miss is nothing short of remarkable. He was hired by now sixth-year head coach Lane Kiffin with a fixer upper task and Golding has delivered.
In Golding’s first season Ole Miss was the 70th best in the nation in total defense, allowing 382.2 yards per game. Last season he improved the defense, moving up to No. 14 in total defense and held offenses to 71 yards less per game than in 2023 (311.2)
Not a secret why defenders are wanting to come play for Golding and the Rebels. Gushiken was aware of this even watching from afar the last couple years all the way over in Pullman, Washington.
“I could see how good of a coach (Golding) is and how he plays to the strengths of his players rather than the weaknesses,” Gushiken added.
The main goal for Gushiken when he entered the portal was to improve his draft stock. Ole Miss fit the bill.
Last season Washington State was a team without a conference after the Pac 12 dismantled following the exodus of top programs to the Big Ten and elsewhere.
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The Cougars and Oregon State stayed loyal, becoming the unofficial ‘Pac 2’ but had to play a Mountain West conference schedule.
For a final year of college that was not an ideal scenario for Gushkien, who was the Cougars third-best tackler in 20204. He wanted to go where he would be challenged and play across from top talent.
“I really wanted to go just go somewhere that would increase my draft stock,” Gushiken said. “I was looking to go up in conference with the whole Pac 12, I guess, disappearing. I definitely wanted to go to a Power 4 school. So when Ole Miss showed interest I was definitely hyped about it.”
Last season Gushiken finished with 52 tackles — 3.5 of them for a loss — two interceptions and six pass breakups.
Strangely he gets to play against his former team immediately as Washington State filled an empty slot on the Rebels 2025 schedule after Wake Forest backed out of the home-and-home series late last season. They meet in Oxford on October 11.
The new Ole Miss safety is not feeling any weirdness about it.
“I don’t think it’s going to be weird. I think it’s going to be great,” Gushiken said. “I wish we could go there, honestly, but it’s cool that they’re coming out here. I’m excited.”
