SEC Football: 3 early transfer portal winners of the 2023-24 offseason
By Matt Melton
1. Ole Miss Rebels
A team that has seen success through the transfer portal the last couple of offseasons, Ole Miss and head coach Lane Kiffin are arguably SEC football's biggest early winner of this portal cycle. As to why, that is because the Rebels have not only added a SEC-high 12 commitments via the portal so far, with the group also featuring some of the top players of the cycle as well.
Arguably college football's top portal overall, a majority of Ole Miss' additions have come on defense, headlined by likely the top overall player in the transfer portal in Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen, who is one of only two five-star transfers this cycle according to 247Sports. Alongside Nolen, the Rebels have also added two edge rushers from within the SEC in Tennessee's Tyler Baron and Florida's Princely Umanmielen along the defensive front, as well as a linebacker also from within the conference in Arkansas' Chris Paul Jr..
The Rebels most additions defensively have come in the secondary, with two coming from within the SEC in Mississippi State's Decamerion Richardson and Tennessee's Tamarion McDonald. Ole Miss has also added Oklahoma's Key Lawrence, Illinois' Tahveon Nicholson, and Indiana's Louis Moore to their secondary.
On offense, the Rebels additions are headlined by South Carolina wide receiver Antwane Wells, who is also joined at the position by Florida Atlantic wideout Devin Price. Ole Miss has also added a piece along the offensive front in Southern Miss lineman Gerquan Scott.