Jared Ivey announces plans to return to Ole Miss for 2024 season
The Ole Miss offense received good news over the weekend and on Monday when Jordan Watkins, Caden Prieskorn and Tre Harris announced their intentions to return for a final season. On Tuesday the defense received some of that good news, as well.
Defensive end Jared Ivey revealed his plans for the short-term future and they involve staying in Oxford for the 2024 season. Ivey’s news comes nearly two weeks after JJ Pegues announced he would be coming back to man the Rebels defensive front one last time.
Keeping both Ivey and Pegues softens the blow of losing Cedric Johnson who accepted an invitation to play in this year’s Senior Bowl on Sunday, which indicates he will not be using his final year of eligibility.
Ivey and Johnson led Ole Miss in sacks with 5.5 in the regular season and both will have the opportunity to add to that number in this month’s Peach Bowl.
Since transferring from Georgia Tech Ivey has 78 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks in his two seasons at Ole Miss.
Ivey made the decision official with a post on his X account that said “Run it back.”
Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding is frantically working the transfer portal to help bolster the defensive line and provide support for Ivey and Pegues.
The top priority in the portal for Golding and head coach Lane Kiffin is currently Texas A&M nose tackle Walter Nolen. The Aggie entered the portal last week and currently has a visit schedule with Ole Miss sometime this week.
Golding also currently has Akelo Stone, Zxavian Harris and Joshua Harris set to return for next season. Stone is eligible to leave for the NFL as a rising senior but has yet to indicate his plans. Harris is a rising junior and Harris has an extra year of eligibility remaining.
