Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris (Photo credit: Ole Miss football/Instagram)
The return of Ole Miss football is just 44 days away.
Now-sixth-year head coach Lane Kiffin and select players took their turn at SEC Media Days on Monday. Later in the week the rest of the Rebels got their own turns in the spotlight with Ole Miss Production Day.
The Rebels last season won 10 games for the third time in four years. They’re replacing over 70 percent of their starting 22, but expectations remain high entering the 2025-26 campaign.
Vegas set the over/under for Ole Miss’ win total at 8.5. Rebel Grove interviewed four separate SEC analysts in Atlanta. All took the over.
“The vibe’s been awesome,” junior linebacker TJ Dottery told Rebel Grove. “The guys are very hungry. Everybody’s hungry. Everybody has something to prove, and everybody’s ready to play.”
A lot of the optimism for the Rebels is a result of an impressive off-season for first-year starting quarterback Austin Simmons.
Simmons, Dottery and wide receiver Cayden Lee all went to Media Days. Simmons is taking over for three-year record-setter Jaxson Dart, a first-round NFL Draft selection of the New York Giants. Dart threw for 4,729 yards, 29 touchdowns and an SEC-leading 329.2 yards last season. The SEC named him all-conference.
Simmons received playing time for the first time in his career and completed 19 of 32 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.
“I might pick over 13 right now after you meet Austin Simmons,” ESPN/SEC Network studio anchor Peter Burns said. “I mean, my God, this kid, 19-years-old, if I had that type of maturity? Hell, I’m 46 now.
The sky’s the limit. I think the most important thing, despite how much they lost, especially defensively, right now you’re looking at a team that the floor feels like it’s so much higher than it’s ever been because Lane’s there. Lane’s so much more comfortable. You see him on set with us and having some fun.
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“I think, defensively, they take a step back. I don’t think they take a step back offensively. In fact, I’m even more excited about what this team can do with Austin. Maybe not this year, but I think if he sticks around and has another year under his belt, why not a College Football Playoff team?”
Lee is the lone returner in an overhauled Ole Miss wide receiver room.
The Rebels went heavy at the position in the portal, adding No. 1 wide receivers from Oklahoma State (De’Zhaun Stribling) and Penn State (Harrison Wallace). Also signed were Caleb Odom (Alabama), Traylon Ray (West Virginia) and Deuce Alexander (Wake Forest). The Rebels landed 5-star Caleb Cunningham and 4-star Winston Watkins in the 2025 recruiting class.
Lee has played in 23 career games as a Rebel with 62 catches for 988 yards and four touchdowns. He was Ole Miss’ second-most productive wideout lasts season and was one of only two starters to play in all 13 games.
“I feel like we really have a very positive vibe for all the new guys that we brought in,” Lee said in a sit-down with Rebel Grove on Monday. “Some people may think it’s negative — who’s going to play, who’s going to do this, who’s going to do that. But the guys we brought in have been very good character guys. They just want the team to succeed.”
The included photos from Ole Miss Production Day were provided by Ole Miss Athletics.
Austin Simmons
Zxavian Harris
Terez Davis
Princewill Umanmielen
Jaylon Braxton
Princewill Umanmielen
Kewan Lacy
Ethan Fields
De’Zhaun Stribling
Jam Brown
Jam Brown and William Echoles
PJ Wilkins
William Echoles
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