Fall camp is where the talk finally gets tested, and Ole Miss is walking into it with a long list of questions and a few big-name answers. Pete Golding is entering his first official season as the Rebels’ head coach, and the next few weeks will start sorting out the depth chart, the breakout candidates, and the shape of a team hoping to make a College Football Playoff run.
One of the most important names to watch is Kam Franklin. The five-star recruit arrived in Oxford with plenty of buzz, but last season was spent behind veteran talent.
Now the young defensive lineman gets a real shot to show he’s ready for a bigger role. His tools have never been the issue.
Franklin has the size, strength, and athleticism to bother offenses; the question is whether he can stack strong practices and consistently pressure the quarterback against Ole Miss’ experienced offensive line. If he does, he could leave camp projected as one of the defense’s starters.
Trinidad Chambliss is in a very different spot. After the 2025 season, he has plenty to prove, even with the preseason hype, a strong SEC Media Day showing, and his place near the top of the national radar.
BetMGM lists Chambliss at No. 3 in the preseason 2026 Heisman Trophy odds, trailing only Texas quarterback Arch Manning and Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr. In 2025, he finished with 298 passing yards, 39 rushing yards, and 2.3 touchdowns per start.
With John David Baker taking over as coordinator, there’s an expectation that the offense will click quickly with Chambliss and the rest of the roster. He enters the year with experience, confidence, and the kind of dual-threat ability that keeps him in the Heisman conversation.
The biggest camp battle may be up front. Ole Miss has competition coming at offensive line, running back, receiver rotations, and in the secondary, but the line carries the most uncertainty.
The interior looks solid with Patrick Kutas, Brycen Sanders, and Delano Townsend giving the Rebels three experienced starters in the middle. The real fight is at tackle, where two jobs are open.
The expectation is that the starting five will be set before the opener, with Connor Howes, Delano Townsend, Brycen Sanders, Patrick Kutas, and Carius Curne forming the group. If that unit comes together fast and builds chemistry, it won’t just protect Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy - it could help push Ole Miss into the SEC Championship picture in Golding’s first season.
Freshmen don’t often walk into the SEC and win jobs right away, but Dorian Barney has a real chance to do exactly that. He arrives with the size, speed, and confidence to compete immediately, and camp will be his first true opportunity to show he belongs with the veterans.
Golding likes what Barney brings in the secondary: speed for man coverage, plus the physicality and ball skills to make plays on the football. If he stands out in one-on-ones and carries that over into scrimmages, the staff may have a hard time keeping him off the field.
The challenge is steep at cornerback, where one lapse can turn into a big play, but Barney has the talent to become a starter and is one of the few true freshmen who can make an impact for the Rebels in 2026.
Kewan Lacy is also set up for a big year after rushing for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025. He finished among the nation’s rushing leaders, earned preseason All-America recognition, and passed on the NFL Draft to return to Oxford.
Another season like that would hardly shock anyone, but for Lacy, finishing as the top SEC rusher is both realistic and important if he wants to back up his place in the preseason rankings. His toughest competition last year came from Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy, who led the SEC with 1,649 yards.
Both backs are back, but Lacy is aiming to end up on top.
In Other News...
Nick Saban Sounds Wary Of Zach Arnett Back At Mississippi State
Zach Arnett is back in Starkville, and one familiar observer is already making clear why that matters. After two seasons away as an analyst at Ole Miss and Florida State, Arnett has rejoined Mississippi States staff as defensive coordinator, a move that brings him back into the SEC West spotlight with a scheme that has long drawn attention from opponents on the other side of the ball.
Nick Saban was among those willing to put a sharper point on it, praising Arnetts defense and sounding wary of what it asks offenses to handle. The Alabama coach described the scheme as difficult to prepare for and play against, the kind that can create negative plays without needing a roster loaded with dominant personnel, which helps explain why Arnetts return is drawing notice well beyond Starkville. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Has One Secondary Battle That Could Define 2026
Ole Miss enters 2026 with the kind of momentum that makes every position battle feel a little bigger, and the secondary is no exception. After a strong 2025 under Pete Golding, the Rebels bring back key pieces like Kewan Lacy, Trinidad Chambliss and Antonio Kite, while also adding Auburn transfer Jay Crawford to a cornerback mix that already has real competition.
Crawford arrives with a strong case to become the top cornerback in Oxford, and his presence gives Golding another option as he tries to push a unit that has not always been known for producing elite defensive backs. Kite is back in the mix after his 2025 season, and with Goldings defensive background driving the room, this could be the one battle that helps define how high Ole Miss can climb in 2026. [Read more 🡒]