Fall camp has answered a lot for Ole Miss. The one spot still hanging over the Rebels is the right side of the offensive line, and that matters because Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy are the kind of playmakers who can push this offense into something bigger.
Chambliss is viewed as a favorite to contend for, and potentially win, the Heisman. Lacy is chasing the SEC rushing title and the Doak Walker Award. But the size of that ceiling now depends less on those two and more on whether a retooled front can do its job.
The good news for Ole Miss is that the interior of the line looks like a strength. Center Brycen Sanders, left guard Delano Townsend, and right guard Patrick Kutas are all back, giving the Rebels a proven core in the middle.
Sanders’ return is especially important because the center handles the most communication on the line. Townsend’s presence also matters because of his real SEC experience as a starter. Kutas is another major holdover after winning the Kent Hull Trophy as the state of Mississippi’s best college offensive lineman in 2025.
That trio is part of why this group does not feel like a total reset. Pete Golding and Chambliss have both pointed to the foundation being built inside, with Ole Miss trying to replace two tackles around a stable core rather than start from scratch.
And the numbers back up the strength of that unit. In 2025, Ole Miss allowed just 19 sacks, which tied for the fewest in the SEC. Departed tackles Diego Pounds and Jayden Williams combined to allow only two sacks between them.
The real uncertainty sits at right tackle. Golding called it a real “question” when camp opened at SEC Media Days, and the Rebels are still sorting through the options.
The candidates include LSU transfer Carius Curne, Miami transfer Tommy Kinsler IV, and returner Connor Howes. Curne remains in the mix even after an offseason arrest and no-contest plea on driving-related charges, though he is still working back into full standing with the coaching staff.
Kinsler brings 19 games of experience across three seasons with the Hurricanes. Howes gives Ole Miss the most familiarity with its own facility and system.
The battle is expected to run well into fall camp, with the winner likely not known until after a few weeks of practice.
Whoever claims the job will be protecting Chambliss’ throwing side against SEC pass rushers, and there won’t be much room for a long adjustment period. That makes the right tackle spot the biggest variable in whether this offense reaches the level Ole Miss is hoping for.
In Other News...
Caleb Odom May Decide How Dangerous Ole Miss Stays In 2026
Ole Miss is headed toward a very different-looking passing game in 2026, with several of its most familiar offensive targets either off to the NFL or gone via transfer. Deuce Alexander is the lone returning starter among the wide receivers and tight ends, which makes the next wave of pass-catchers especially important as the Rebels reset around new offensive coordinator John David Baker.
Caleb Odom could end up being one of the biggest swing pieces in that transition. The Rebels are expected to keep leaning on tight ends as a real part of the offense, and that puts Odom in position to matter quickly if he can grow into a larger role. For a team trying to stay dangerous through another personnel turnover, how much he gives them may go a long way toward shaping the ceiling of the passing attack. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Faces A Big Defensive Test After Losing Princewill Umanmielen
Replacing Princewill Umanmielen is going to take more than one player, and Ole Miss is already leaning into a committee approach on the edge. Defensive coordinator Bryan Brown said the Rebels will spread those snaps around, with transfers Blake Purchase and Jonathan Maldonado among the pieces expected to help steady a spot that suddenly looks a lot different.
Brown also pointed to a growing leadership core on that side of the ball, naming Will Echoles, Keaton Thomas and Luke Ferrelli as players finding their voice. The timing matters with senior Suntarine Perkins earning the 2026 Chucky Mullins Courage Award, a recognition that reflects his leadership and perseverance and gives the defense a veteran presence to build around as it sorts out the next step. [Read more 🡒]