Former Jacksonville State Defensive Lineman Chris Hardie to Visit Ole Miss

Ole Miss will have their second visit of the week, with former Jacksonville State defensive lineman Chris Hardie set to be in Oxford this weekend, first reported by Pete Thamel of ESPN.

Head coach Lane Kiffin is looking to add depth to the Ole Miss defensive line, with the potential of Chris Hardie on the Rebels roster. Hardie will be visiting Oxford this coming weekend, and Kiffin is looking to take a big step in getting a commitment from the big defensive lineman.

Hardie was awarded first-team All-Conference-USA honors in 2023 for the Gamecocks. During last season, Hardie finished with 8.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss, helping lead Jacksonville State to a 9-win season.

According to On3, UCF is leading the race to land Hardie. However, Kiffin could steal a march on the competition during this weekend's visit.

Two Ole Miss Defensive Lineman Make 247Sports Top-50 Most Impactful Transfers in 2024

Despite Lane Kiffin's desire to add defensive line help, the position group is one of the best in the nation. Two of those defensive line players on the roster are transfers Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen, both of whom made the 247Sports top 50 most impactful transfers.

Nolen and Umanmielen were ranked in the top 10 and side by side. Florida transfer Umanmielen was ranked No.7, while Texas A&M transfer Nolen was ranked No.8. The high ranks show how vital both players will be in Ole Miss's playoff run this season.

If Ole Miss manages to add transfer Chris Hardie to the group, alongside returnees Jared Ivey and J.J. Pegues, this defensive line could be a disruptive bunch for opposition teams.