The transfer portal drama is finally (primarily) done with, for now. After a wild ride of wondering who was entering the portal, we know for sure who all entered. We also know where most everyone is headed, especially for the higher profile names. Teams have managed to fill holes with new guys, as well as add depth in places where it is needed. And the Ole Miss offense is no different.
The Rebels, one of the country’s best offenses this season, are losing numerous pieces to this year’s NFL Draft. However, first-year head coach Pete Golding wasted no time in filling holes and adding depth for next year’s roster.
So who are some of the key names headed to Oxford for 2026, and what kind of impact can we expect to see?
Key Additions for the Ole Miss Offense
Deuce Knight
It would be hard to imagine Deuce Knight not being the biggest key to this offense’s portal haul. With questions surrounding Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility for next year, Ole Miss had to bring in a quarterback, just to be safe. Knight, a four-star recruit who spent his freshman season at Auburn, was one of the best quarterbacks in the portal. While at Auburn, Knight appeared in two games, making one start. In those games, he completed 17 of 25 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 13 carries for 178 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. While those are really good numbers for a freshman, it is worth pointing out that his start came against Mercer.
There’s no questioning that Knight is the definition of a dual-threat quarterback. But the passing game is going to need to improve, as he sees more reps. Especially as he starts to see better competition.
The other question is how much playing time he sees in 2026. If Chambliss wins his appeal against the NCAA, or is granted an injunction in Mississippi state court, there’s almost no doubt he will be the starter. But if Chambliss isn’t granted an extra year, it’s all but guaranteed that Knight ends up as the Rebels’ starter.
Whether as the starter or the backup, having a guy with Knight’s potential is a big pickup for the Ole Miss quarterback room.
Darrell Gill Jr
Another key pickup for the Rebels is former Syracuse wide receiver Darrell Gill Jr. The Ole Miss receiver room is losing Harrison Wallace and De’Zhaun Stribling to the draft/eligibility. They’re also losing Winston Watkins and Cayden Lee to the transfer portal. This put immense strain on Golding and new offensive coordinator, John David Baker, to find replacements for those guys. Gill is one of those replacements. At 6’3, 195 pounds, he becomes a big target for either Chambliss or Knight.
In three seasons at Syracuse, he didn’t put up tremendous numbers. Over his last two years, he’s combined for 63 catches and 1,076 yards, to go along with seven touchdowns. But if he can put on a bit more weight, he will become an extremely physical target that has the ability to win jump balls on the outside, making him a good red zone target for the Rebels. In that sense, expect him to play a similar role to what Stribling did this season in Oxford. And with Ole Miss also bringing in his teammate and fellow receiver Johntay Cook, who brought in 45 passes for Syracuse this season, he should be more comfortable in his new environment.
With the receivers that Ole Miss was already bringing back, Gill and Cook are likely to be role players. While they will see plenty of snaps, they may not be every-down guys, solely due to the depth the Rebels now have at receiver. However, when they are on the field, they have the potential to make explosive plays for an offense that has grown accustomed to them.
Tommy Kinsler IV and Carius Curne
These two guys are set to provide much-needed depth to a position Ole Miss has looked to improve for years now. The offensive line. Over the years, the Rebels have lacked size upfront to compete against the country’s best teams. This year, that finally changed a bit. They brought in bigger guys, and it paid off, as they advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Clearly, Golding and company want to keep that trend going.
Tommy Kinsler IV arrives in Oxford after spending three years at Miami. While there, he played a role in the Hurricanes’ win over Ole Miss in the semifinals. In that one, Rebel fans saw a Miami offensive line that dominated the line of scrimmage. And listed at 6’6, 340 pounds, Ole Miss now has a key, and massive, piece of that line on their own team.
Then, there’s LSU transfer Carius Curne. As a freshman this season, he started five games in Baton Rouge and appeared in three more. In limited playing time, he made a solid impact on the LSU interior. Listed at 6’4, 320 pounds, he was listed as the second-rated offensive tackle in this year’s transfer portal. Now, at Ole Miss, he’s expected to become an every-down member of the Rebel offensive line.
Due to the communication needed with offensive linemen, there are always questions about how new faces gel together. But if these two guys can mesh with what was an already-improved offensive line, Ole Miss could have a real advantage in the trenches next season.
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