Report: Ole Miss 'out in front' for SEC transfer wide receiver

Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin has already hit the transfer portal hard this season, looking to reload the roster for another successful 2022 season. Spring practice is set to end on Saturday after a spring game and Kiffin could be quick to make more additions to improve his offense.

According to Clint Brewster of 247Sports, Ole Miss is “out in front” for Vanderbilt Commodores transfer wide receiver, Cam Johnson. The No. 14 wide receiver to enter the transfer portal this cycle according to the On3 transfer portal rankings, if the Rebels end up being the selection, Johnson would be the third transfer pass catcher for Kiffin.

Johnson spent four seasons with the Commodores, playing in 37 games. The wide receiver has 1,233 yards and 10 touchdowns on 124 receptions and averaging 9.9 yards per catch. He would bring another dynamic to the Ole Miss offense looking to surround whoever their starting quarterback might be with SEC-proven talent.

Dontario Drummond was the only Ole Miss wide receiver to have over 1,000 yards last season but he is no longer with the program. Adding somebody such as Johnson could translate quickly for the Rebels, already putting up decent numbers inside of the conference.

Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin knows there is talent to replace for 2022 season

The immense success Ole Miss found last season under Lane Kiffin saw his veteran leaders step up, take the charge and lead the Rebels to their first 10-win regular season in program history alongside a Sugar Bowl berth. Kiffin has lost some of those stars to graduation, the transfer portal, and the NFL Draft, meaning he’s in need of a new face to step into the spotlight.

“We had a lot to replace,” Kiffin said on The Rich Eisen Show. “We’ve already had 12 major college transfers come in on this transfer portal run, so we’re gonna replace a lot of really good players that were good kids like Matt [Corral]. That won’t be easy.”

Former USC quarterback Jaxson Dart headlines the transfer class in name value and NIL after appearing in five games last season with the Trojans as a true freshman. Dart completed 117 of his 189 passes for 1,353 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions along with 22 rushing attempts for 43 yards and two more touchdowns in his limited role but looks to be the presumptive starter for the Rebels this fall.

Kiffin also nabbed commitments from four other four-star recruits in Michael Trigg, Ladarius Tennison, Jeremiah Pegues and Jared Ivey, but the real steal of the offseason for the Rebels in the transfer market: former five-star running back recruit Zach Evans from TCU. Evans was the No. 1 tailback in the Class of 2020 and No. 14 player in the nation overall.