Ole Miss just added a big piece to its defensive front - and it comes straight from one of college football’s premier programs. Former Alabama defensive lineman Jordan Renaud has committed to transfer to the Rebels, giving Lane Kiffin’s squad another experienced body with SEC battle scars.
Renaud, a redshirt sophomore, saw action in all 15 games for Alabama this past season. That alone says something - it’s not easy to crack the rotation on a Crimson Tide defense stacked with blue-chip talent.
But what really stands out is how he finished the year. Renaud earned starts in Alabama’s final three games, including the SEC Championship against Georgia, the first-round College Football Playoff win over Oklahoma, and the CFP quarterfinal against Indiana.
When the lights got brighter, Alabama trusted him to be on the field.
His season stat line reflects a player who made the most of his opportunities: 18 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and eight quarterback pressures. While his Pro Football Focus grades - 57.1 overall, 56.0 against the run, and 54.1 as a pass rusher - don’t jump off the page, those numbers don’t always tell the whole story, especially for young defensive linemen still finding their footing in the trenches.
Renaud primarily worked at the “Bandit” position in Kane Wommack’s defensive scheme - a hybrid edge role that demands versatility. When LT Overton went down late in the season, Renaud’s role expanded, and he stepped in without missing a beat. That kind of adaptability is exactly what Ole Miss needs on a defensive line that’s looking to reload.
This isn’t Renaud’s first taste of college football. He appeared in three games as a true freshman and 12 more as a redshirt freshman in 2024, posting 14 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss that season. So while he’s still technically an underclassman, he brings two full years of SEC experience with him - and that’s no small thing.
Renaud becomes the 19th transfer to commit to Ole Miss this cycle and the fourth defensive lineman. That influx of talent is timely.
The Rebels are looking to fill some key holes up front, especially after Thursday’s news that edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen is heading elsewhere. Renaud may not be a plug-and-play star just yet, but he’s got the tools, the reps, and the upside to be a difference-maker in Oxford.
For a team with big aspirations in 2026, this is the kind of depth move that could pay dividends when the season hits its grind. Keep an eye on Renaud - his best football might still be ahead of him.