Monday marked another blockbuster day for Pete Golding's staff overhaul at Ole Miss.
To start with, Golding closed in on Kansas State co-DC Marcus Woodson to potentially replace DC Patrick Toney, who left just a few weeks ago for an NFL gig.
On top of that, Golding also added Arkansas's Chris Norris as a special teams analyst.
Ole Miss is hiring Chris Norris as a special teams analyst, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 17, 2026
The former Nebraska fullback worked at Arkansas the last two seasons. Was previously special teams coordinator at Western Carolina and a special teams analyst under Mario Cristobal at Oregon. pic.twitter.com/hT1FWZ0S5N
Why Marcus Woodson and Chris Norris are key hires for Ole Miss
The two will be the latest additions to Golding's already shiny new staff that the Rebel Nation will see in action for the first time in the 2026 season.
Woodson might be a perfect fit for DC than Golding is letting on. During his time at Florida State, he helped turn Jammie Robinson into a back-to-back All-ACC first-teamer, and at Arkansas, he spearheaded a secondary that improved its national pass defense ranking by 99 spots in just one year.
A proven track record of turning elite collegiate talent into a Pro-caliber one is exactly what Golding needs this season, given he has players like Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy on his team.
Alongside being a strong defensive mind, Woodson is also considered a top recruiter given his native ties with Mississippi (Moss Point).
The cherry on top of Woodson's hire is his being a former Rebel safety, reflecting the one thing Golding has prioritized in building his new staff at Ole Miss: bringing home as many alumni as he can.
Moving on to Norris, bringing him in from Fayetteville, is another mastermind move from Golding. The former Arkansas special teams coordinator is a veteran specialist who led one of the most disciplined special teams units in the SEC last season.
For an Ole Miss program that was ranked No. 1 in special teams efficiency last year per ESPN’s SP+, Norris could actually ensure the Rebels could live up to their College Football Playoff standard, especially considering how crucial Lucas Carneiro's kicks were for their postseason run.
Plus, boasting a staff where a majority of them have deep-rooted connections to the Sip makes them a prime attraction spot for the hottest recruits in the country.
Ole Miss is already accelaratig towards being one of the top recruitng classes this season, even overtaking LSU.
These splash hires could ensure they get the edge they need to overtake the rest of the table.