The rich keep getting richer, especially using the transfer portal. Ole Miss added its second defensive commit from the spring transfer portal: former Jacksonville State defensive tackle Chris Hardie.
On3 posted on their social media on May 26 that the AP Sports Agency had told them that Hardie would transfer to the Rebels. After recent visits to Ole Miss, UCF, and reportedly Oklahoma, Hardie looks to have gone with Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. He was the third highest ranked defensive lineman available in the transfer portal.
Jacksonville State All-Conference USA defensive lineman Chris Hardie will transfer to Ole Miss, the @APSportsAgency tells @On3sports.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) May 26, 2024
He tallied 61 tackles, 16 TFL and 8.5 sacks in 2023.https://t.co/VNvB2EkEgp pic.twitter.com/5XFQYrTZmw
Hardie was an All-Conference USA defensive tackle in 2023, recording 60 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, and an interception. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound lineman redshirted his freshman season, featuring in 47 games for the Gamecocks.
It can't be understated what a fantastic job Ole Miss's defensive coordinator, Pete Golding, and defensive line coach, Randall Joyner, have done in getting Hardie to commit. UCF and Oklahoma have been on a tear in the transfer portal recently, so it's an even bigger pick-up for the Rebels. More so, stopping an SEC rival from scooping a vital player from the portal.
Will this be the last transfer portal commitment for Ole Miss?
Is head coach Lane Kiffin's work in the transfer portal complete? You can never say never, but the Rebels have yet to be mentioned alongside any available players left in the portal.
Kiffin could now shift more of his focus to recruiting, with plenty of visits lined up over the following months. Don't be surprised to see Ole Miss mentioned with a transfer portal name further down the line.