Tommy Kinsler IV is staying in the SEC - just not where some might’ve expected.
The former Miami offensive lineman, who entered the transfer portal fresh off a national championship game appearance, has committed to Ole Miss. The decision came at the end of his official visit to Oxford, and it signals another big win for a Rebels program aggressively retooling its offensive line under new leadership.
Kinsler, a 6-foot-6, 340-pound lineman with the kind of size and versatility coaches covet, had also visited Auburn just days earlier. The Tigers made a strong late push, but Ole Miss ultimately sealed the deal. According to his uncle and representative, Latish Kinsler - who also serves as president of LifeStyle Sports Agency - the Rebels made Kinsler feel both wanted and valued.
“Ole Miss definitely did a great job,” Latish said. “It came down to Auburn and Ole Miss.”
This isn’t Kinsler’s first encounter with the Rebels. Just weeks ago, he lined up against them in the College Football Playoff semifinals, helping Miami knock off Ole Miss in a 31-27 thriller. Now, he’ll be suiting up in red and navy.
Kinsler arrives with two years of eligibility and is expected to compete immediately for a starting role. He brings position flexibility - capable of playing both guard and tackle - but Ole Miss is initially slotting him in at right tackle. That’s where the need is, and that’s where Kinsler’s size and athleticism could make a real impact.
“He will have position flexibility, but he will go in as tackle,” Latish said. “Whatever the need is, but they are penciling him in at right tackle.
It is a great fit for him. Dealing with coach Joe Judge was a huge component, as well as coach Pete Golding.”
That coaching connection is key. Golding, now the head coach at Ole Miss, has wasted no time reshaping the offensive front. The Rebels lost five offensive linemen to the portal this offseason - TJ Hedrick (Auburn), Jude Foster (Liberty), Ethan Fields (Alabama), PJ Wilkins (Wisconsin), and Devin Harper, who followed former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin to LSU.
To counter that exodus, Golding and his staff have brought in four transfer offensive linemen, including Kinsler. He joins a group that features Oklahoma transfer Troy Everett, Florida transfer Enoch Wangoy, and LSU transfer Carius Curne. It’s a major overhaul, and Kinsler figures to be a central piece of that puzzle.
At Miami, Kinsler spent most of his time developing behind former five-star tackle Francis Mauigoa. After redshirting in 2023, he saw action in 10 games in 2024 as a reserve and continued in a backup role throughout the 2025 season. While he was climbing the depth chart and was in line to compete for a starting job, the opportunity to start fresh - and potentially start right away - proved too good to pass up.
Kinsler was able to enter the portal despite the window being closed due to a special NCAA rule allowing players from national championship game participants a five-day window to transfer. That timing worked in his favor.
A product of Trinity Catholic in Ocala, Florida, Kinsler came out of high school as a high three-star recruit, rated the No. 36 interior offensive lineman in the 2023 class. He signed with the Hurricanes that year, and while he didn’t become a full-time starter in Coral Gables, the talent and potential were always there.
Now, Ole Miss is betting that potential is ready to turn into production. With a rebuilt offensive line and a new coaching regime, Kinsler has a chance to carve out a major role in the SEC trenches - and he won’t have to wait long to prove he belongs.