'Contender!' Ole Miss Holds Top Transfer Portal Class, Per 247Sports

Despite moves from other programs in college football, the Ole Miss Rebels have held onto the top transfer portal class this offseason, per 247Sports.

The transfer portal is one of the wildest stories in the current landscape of college football, but by-and-large, it has been good to the Ole Miss Rebels.

This offseason, head coach Lane Kiffin and staff (notably defensive coordinator Pete Golding) have made use of the portal to improve upon a roster that won a team-high 11 games in 2023, topped off by a win in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.

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Despite other programs in the country also making moves in the transfer market, Ole Miss has retained its title of "best portal class," according to 247Sports this week. You can read an excerpt from their analysis below.

"Ole Miss has used the transfer portal and roster continuity to emerge as a way-too-early national championship contender. The Rebels have improved immensely after a double-digit win campaign, despite losing star running back Quinshon Judkins to Ohio State. Ole Miss' defense will be one to watch after adding instant impact newcomers such as Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), Princely Umanmielen (Florida), linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (Arkansas) and several others."

Much of the Rebels' emphasis in the portal has come on the defensive side of the ball, but some key offensive talent has transitioned to Oxford as well, namely running back Logan Diggs and wide receiver Juice Wells, both of whom come from fellow programs in the Southeastern Conference.

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Pair these additions with the return of key talent from last season (Jaxson Dart, Tre Harris, etc.), and the Rebels are looking like a legitimate contender for a College Football Playoff run in 2024, "way-too-early" or not.

There is still a lot of time between now and kickoff for Ole Miss, but when the Rebels take the field for the first time this fall, it will come against the Furman Paladins on Aug. 31 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.