It appears that Lane Kiffin has found a starting outside receiver in the transfer portal. De'Zhaun Stribling, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior receiver from Kapolei, Hawaii, has previously made stops at Washington State and Oklahoma State, respectively. He has been productive his entire career, recording 44 catches as a freshman and 51 as a sophomore. He missed ten games in 2023 due to a wrist injury, but returned as a redshirt junior and caught 52 passes for a career-high 882 yards, good for 17 yards per catch, also a career-high.
Stribling's best performance in 2024 came against Tulsa, where he caught seven passes for a career-high 174 yards, his first 100-yard performance of his career. He displayed his ability to win a jump ball, making an acrobatic catch on a goal-line fade for his first score, and showed his route-running ability and speed, freeing himself with a double-move, and outrunning the defense for 63 yards on his second score. Stribling had three additional 100+ yard performances, all occurring against conference opponents Kansas State, TCU, and Texas Tech.
His performance against Kansas State was most impressive when he recorded 154 yards on seven catches, including a 77-yard trick-play touchdown. Stribling slow-played a crossing route, waited for the safety to bite on the flea-flicker, and turned on the jets for the score.
He shows off his physical traits as a receiver but is also an impressive run-blocker. In the second offensive snap against Kansas State, offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn called a pitch to Ollie Gordon III to the left side, away from the H-back and other blocking help. On a run-blocking island, Stribling drove the cornerback backwards with his initial surge, disengaged, and then blocked the safety from crashing in on the play. Gordon ended up gaining ten yards and a first down on the play. Considering his ability to be a home-run threat and his willingness to be physical as a run blocker, he will be a very important piece as Ole Miss attempts to rebuild its top 3 offense from a year ago.
Although he was not a highly recruited prospect out of high school, his skill set seems to resemble Laquon Treadwell. They have a similar build, the ability to stretch the field, as well as a tendency to be physical in run blocking and a reliable target in the short passing game. Pairing Stribling with veteran Cayden Lee would be intriguing, given Stribling's blocking ability on the outside and Lee's quickness in the screen game. The pair's solid route-running abilities can allow Charlie Weis Jr. to give new quarterback Austin Simmons open looks as they establish a new offensive identity.
Although Ole Miss will have a new signal-caller in 2025, Stribling should experience improved quarterback play, an increased role in his new offense, and an opportunity to record his first 1,000-yard season.