Rice transfer quarterback Shawqi Itraish commits to Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss are adding another transfer quarterback to their roster. On Wednesday, former Rice signal-caller Shawqi Itraish committed to join the Rebels, he announced on social media.

Itraish played high school football at Braden River (Bradenton, FL), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1580 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Over the course of his collegiate career, Itraish has completed 24 of his 45 pass attempts, accumulating 216 yards. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown yet, but he does have six interceptions. He did not throw a pass during the 2024 season for the Owls.

Joining Itraish at Ole Miss will be former Oklahoma State thrower Maealiuaki Smith. He committed to join the Rebels after starting two games last season for the Cowboys. During his limited action at Oklahoma State, he went 44-of-74 passing for 489 yards, tossing two touchdowns and four interceptions. Additionally, he ran for a score.

Those small flashes showed how Smith could become a potential playmaker at the position down the road. His game against Texas Tech was particularly noteworthy. The Cowboys battled in a shootout, and he kept them in it down the stretch, even though the team ultimately fell 56-48.

Smith threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns against the Red Raiders, while also throwing one pick. He ran for another touchdown in the contest, as well.

As a recruit, Smith played high school football at Junipero Serra (Sacramento, CA), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 523 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

With the additions of Shawqi Itraish and Maealiuaki Smith, Ole Miss is No. 3 in On3’s Team Transfer Portal Rankings. The index utilizes the On3 (P)erformance score to measure a team’s production during the transfer process. This proprietary algorithm determines if a school has improved its overall team talent, stayed the same, or declined in talent during the transfer window.

All told, the Rebels have added 32 transfers, while losing 28 to the portal. Their index score is a 68, which shows the improvement Lane Kiffin and company has made to their roster this offseason.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.