The 2025 Ole Miss Rebels receiver room has loads of potential

Ole Miss had one of its best wide receiver rooms in program history last season, with Tre Harris leading the way, followed by Jordan Watkins. Harris, who spent the majority of the season injured, finished with 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns. Watkins was equally as important, with a team-leading nine touchdown catches.

The only receiver of significance who returns from the 10-3 season, which culminated with a win in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, is Cayden Lee. The Kennesaw, GA native was second on the team in catches, averaging 15.3 yards per catch.

Both Harris and Watkins are headed to the NFL. Ole Miss WR Juice Wells, who led the team with 19.8 yards per catch and six touchdowns, also opted to enter the upcoming draft as well.

Ayden Williams, the former top-ranked high school receiver in Mississippi, elected to transfer to Mississippi State. 

With Lee the only notable returner, will the Rebels, under head coach Lane Kiffin, be facing a significant drop off at the position next fall? Not only will it not drop off, but they may have a better unit than it had this past season. 

Let’s look at the new room led by wide receiver coach George McDonald. If you’re quarterback Austin Simmons, this should make you smile. 

The new wide receiver room for Ole Miss

The Rebels loaded the room during the offseason via the transfer portal with Penn State transfer Harrison Wallace III, the highest-ranked WR in the transfer portal at the time. Wallace grabbed 46 balls last season and will be a big target for the Rebels next season. 

Ole Miss also added receivers in Oklahoma State transfer De'Zhaun Stribling, Alabama hybrid tight end/wide receiver Caleb Odom, Wake Forest transfer Deuce Alexander, and West Virginia transfer Traylon Ray.

The brightest star in the room could be Mississippi’s top player last season, five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham. The Ackerman, MS. native played at Choctaw County High School and chose the Rebels with offers from all over the country. 

The Rebels also proved they are a team to watch when targeting the tight end on offense. Next season should be no different, as tight end Dae’Quan Wright leads a talented group.

Wright finished with 27 catches and four touchdowns last season and was a big target for QB Jaxson Dart late last season. Starting TE Caden Prieskorn, who finished the season with 27 catches, dealt with injuries last fall and is headed to the NFL. 

The Rebels hit the portal for support and ended up hitting the jackpot, landing Arkansas transfer TE Luke Hasz. Ole Miss would also grab New Mexico transfer TE Trace Bruckler to go along with Wright and Hasz to give Simmons plenty of ammunition next season. 

Hasz had a stellar season last year for the Hogs, snagging 26 passes and four touchdowns. 

Numbers, numbers, numbers

With the speedster Harrison joining the fold, Ole Miss will welcome De’Zahaun Stribling to the mix. He was superb for the Cowboys last season, hauling in 52 passes and scoring six touchdowns while averaging 17.0 yards a catch. 

Between Deuce Alexander and Traylon Ray, Ole Miss is gaining valuable experience. The duo had 64 catches between them and six touchdowns last season. 

The future is here

Five-star signee Caleb Cunningham, who initially committed to Alabama, became among the highest-ranked recruits in the Lane Kiffin era. Cunningham led Choctaw County to a 2024 State Championship, finishing the season with 42 catches for 877 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had a monster junior season, setting school records with 48 catches for 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

The Rebels will also welcome incoming four-star WR Winston Watkins, Jr. from Venice, FL. Four-star WR Dillon Alfred, from Saraland, AL, is another signee in the class the staff is excited about. 

The steal of the class could be four-star receiver Samari Reed from Pompano Beach, FL. In his last two seasons at Monarch High School, Reed grabbed 96 passes for 1,890 yards and 19 touchdowns.