Ole Miss, under the leadership of head coach Lane Kiffin, has actively utilized the transfer portal to bolster its roster. Notable acquisitions include Antwane ‘Juice’ Wells from South Carolina, Walter Nolen from Texas A&M, Gerquan Scott from Southern Miss, and Chris Paul Jr. from Arkansas. However, the team faced a setback with the departure of running back Quinshon Judkins, who transferred to Ohio State University.
Despite the challenges, the Rebels have a solid foundation to build upon, with the return of quarterback Jaxson Dart and a commendable 11-2 record from the previous season. Additionally, the SEC West landscape has changed with the departure of Nick Saban. Nevertheless, Ole Miss has yet to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff since its inception, highlighting the importance of continued roster enhancement.
The recent coaching changes in college football have triggered another influx of players into the transfer portal. Within this dynamic, there are standout individuals whom Ole Miss should consider pursuing to further strengthen their team.
Jonah Coleman, Running Back
As Quinshon Judkins departs Oxford for Ohio State and with backup Ulysses Bentley IV no longer eligible, Ole Miss faces the task of finding a new running back. The prime candidate in the transfer portal appears to be Arizona running back Jonah Coleman.
In the 2023 season, Coleman showcased his skills under the guidance of head coach Jedd Fisch at Arizona. While his raw statistics may not be extraordinary, with 871 rushing yards and five touchdowns, his efficiency stands out, averaging an impressive 6.8 yards per carry. Additionally, Coleman displayed versatility by contributing 25 receptions for 283 yards and a touchdown through the air. One of his standout moments came against the USC Trojans, where he ran for 143 yards on 22 carries and caught four passes for 37 yards, garnering national attention for his breakout performance.
Ever seen a fire hydrant shot out of a cannon? That’s former UA RB Jonah Coleman @jonahcoleman8, who just entered the transfer portal and is hopefully headed to montlake ☔️☔️
Explosive, downhill running back. Love his game. Very good catching out of the backfield as well. pic.twitter.com/kEixlJPeSf— connor (Deathrow KP) (@keithpricetrut1) January 15, 2024
Although not yet a household name, Jonah Coleman has proven his capabilities on the field. Despite Arizona distributing its running back workload among three players, Coleman not only received more opportunities but also demonstrated greater productivity with those chances. Evidently, he is poised to take his game to the next level, which may involve joining a team where he can assume a more prominent role.
Ole Miss emerges as a fitting destination, given their current need for a running back. While there’s a possibility that Coleman might follow coach Jedd Fisch to Seattle and transfer to the University of Washington, it is imperative for Lane Kiffin to exert every effort to persuade Coleman to choose Oxford instead. The Rebels could benefit significantly from Coleman’s talents and contribute to his continued growth as a player.
Julian Sayin, Quarterback
Julian Sayin finds himself part of the Alabama program exodus following the announcement of Nick Saban’s retirement. As the third overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, Sayin enrolled at Alabama in January, preventing an easy exit from his national letter of intent. To seek a new playing opportunity, he would have to explore options through the transfer portal.
Considering this situation, Ole Miss emerges as a viable consideration for Sayin. Head coach Lane Kiffin has a proven track record of quarterback development, notably contributing to Matt Corral’s third-round NFL Draft selection and guiding Jaxson Dart to success since Dart’s transfer from USC.
In his two seasons at Ole Miss, Dart has displayed impressive statistics, completing 63.75% of his passes, averaging 8.8 yards per attempt, and amassing 6,338 passing yards with 43 touchdowns to 16 interceptions. The Rebels under Kiffin began the 2022 season with an 8-1 record, and in 2023, they finished at 11-2, showcasing a conducive environment for quarterbacks to thrive and achieve success.
While other prominent programs like Georgia and Notre Dame were reportedly top contenders for Sayin before his commitment to Alabama, Ole Miss did not extend an offer at that time. With an opportunity arising due to Sayin’s potential transfer, Kiffin has a chance to secure Ole Miss’ quarterback of the future, particularly after the pursuit of Arch Manning did not materialize.
Leave a Reply