Ole Miss continues to improve under head coach Lane Kiffin. They’ve reached at least 10 wins in three of his five seasons at the helm. Prior to his arrival, they had reached 10 wins only seven times in program history. It’s safe to say that expectations have now changed. However, despite the improvements, there’s still one position group that constantly raises eyebrows for the Rebels. So one big question entering 2025 is whether the Ole Miss offensive line can improve and become a difference maker moving forward.
The good news for Rebel fans is that the offensive line has certainly improved from where it was prior to Kiffin’s arrival. But there’s a difference between seeing improvement and actually being good enough to be considered a contender. If last season was any indication, the unit is decent, but nowhere close to being considered elite.
Ole Miss Losing Offensive Linemen to the Portal?
As is the case with every program in today’s landscape of college football, Ole Miss lost a few pieces along the offensive line to the transfer portal. Looking at the positive side of things, most of the guys lost weren’t heavy in terms of production. Mana Taimani and Preston Cushman both saw significant snaps but were used primarily on special teams.
The one big loss for the Rebel offensive line through the portal came from Micah Pettus announcing his transfer to Florida State. Pettus started 29 games over the past three seasons for Ole Miss. And despite a hefty number of holding calls going against him, he proved to be one of the best pieces of the line during his time in Oxford. It also helped that he was widely considered to be a fan favorite, because of his outgoing personality.
The Rebels also lost a few pieces due to running out of eligibility, including Gerquan Scott and Nate Kalepo. Despite both only being in Oxford for one year, they had a big impact up front during the 2024 season. While replacing Pettus, Scott, and Kalepo could be considered to be a tall task, Kiffin and company have since done a good job of bringing in new pieces through the portal themselves.
A Few Big Portal Additions Up Front For the Rebels
Replacements to fill the holes start with Arkansas transfer Patrick Kutas. Upon entering the portal, he was widely considered to be the best interior offensive lineman looking for a new home. While a Razorback, he started 13 games over the course of two seasons but appeared in a total of 26 outings. Now, he’s expected to be a day-one starter for the Rebels, with two years of eligibility remaining.
Another new face along the Ole Miss offensive front is Percy Lewis. The massive 6-7, 355-pound lineman arrives in Oxford with one year of eligibility remaining. Starting at the junior college level, Lewis has since spent time at both Mississippi State and Auburn. While he hasn’t had the success many expected, with his size he still has plenty of upside, especially within a unit that has oftentimes struggled.
A few other names to keep an eye on are PJ Wilkins and Delano Townsend. Wilkins, a Charlotte transfer, is another big body that had a positive impact in his one season on the field as a 49er. On the other hand, Townsend is a UAB transfer who started 11 games this past season as a Blazer. However, he appeared in all 12 contests. Despite being listed as an interior offensive lineman, Townsend comes in with a smaller frame than the others. This smaller size, and his athleticism, could lead Ole Miss to look at moving him away from the interior.
How Do the New Pieces Fit Together and Adjust?
As can be seen, there’s going to be talent up front for the Rebels in 2025. One question that still remains is how well they end up working together. Up front, communication is a major factor in trying to avoid protection breakdowns. If they can end up working well together, the unit as a whole should continue to improve next season.
The other question is how Wilkins and Townsend adjust to SEC play. While Kutas and Lewis have spent plenty of time in the SEC, the other two come from smaller Group of Five schools. The level of competition they’re going to face is drastically improved from what they’re accustomed to. Can they transition quickly, or does the size and speed difference, especially during conference play, end up causing problems?
Ultimately, the Ole Miss offensive line could end up looking like a lot of things in 2025. If all goes well, they could prove to be a solid front in a conference that is used to seeing solid line play. However, if things go poorly, new Rebel quarterback Austin Simmons is going to end up running for his life. And it’ll happen far more often than he would like.
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