Ole Miss brings in Auburn defensive transfer, with ties to defensive coordinator Pete Golding

Ole Miss continues to be linked with transfer portal players who have ties to Pete Golding, the former Alabama defensive coordinator. Although they may have missed out on linebacker Keanu Koht, who transferred to Vanderbilt, they have gained one from an Auburn transfer defensive back.

Safety Antonio Kite committed to the Rebels late last night after hitting the transfer portal. The former Auburn player was originally an Alabama commit in the 2022 class, and Pete Golding was involved in his recruiting before leaving to take the Ole Miss DC job.

Antonio KIte is looking for his second fresh start

Antonio Kite, a former four-star recruit from Alabama, has found it challenging on the field. After committing to the Crimson Tide in 2022, he played several games over the two seasons but failed to record any stats.

Kite transferred to Auburn for the 2024 season, where he appeared in four games before an injury ruled him out for several more. He was later dismissed from the program, 247Sports Jason Caldwell reported for a violation of team rules.

During the four games, Kite tallied six tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery.

Pete Golding knows the defensive back well, and the hope is that he can tap into the talent that previous coordinators and head coaches have yet to find. It's another fresh start for Kite, and it could be his last at a Power Conference team.

Lane Kiffin and his staff have not been afraid to bring in players who have previously had troubles at other programs. Sometimes, it's worked, and other times, it hasn't. Can Kite turn his career around and become a top performer in the Rebels secondary in 2025?