Deuce Alexander finds what he was missing — a true QB connection in Austin Simmons

First-year Ole Miss starting quarterback Austin Simmons flew his wide receivers out to his hometown near Miami (Florida) in the off-season. 

Deuce Alexander made the trip. Alexander was one of five transfer wideouts Ole Miss signed in the NCAA Transfer Portal. The Rebels finished with the nation’s No. 3 overall class.

Alexander played two seasons at Wake Forest, including a redshirt year as a freshman. He appeared in 14 games in all. Twelve came last season. Alexander finished with 36 catches for 400 yards and two touchdowns.

“That’s my guy, man,” Alexander said of Simmons. “I came in the portal and we built a great relationship when I came on my visit. Went out to eat and it continued when I got here. We continue to build a relationship every day. We talk throughout the offense — spots he wants me in. Great relationship with him.”

Ole Miss is in the final days of the second full week of fall camp practices. The Rebels open the 2025-26 season against Georgia State on August 30. 

Alexander has been a camp standout. 

Simmons, meanwhile, is taking over for three-year starter Jaxson Dart. Dart set records as a Rebel and is now in training camp with the NFL’s New York Giants. The Giants drafted Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft in April.

“It’s cool seeing it on paper, but doing it actually is helping me out,” Alexander said of the Ole Miss offense. “Just keep repping it every day in practice. Keep talking to Austin, meeting with Austin to the side, meeting with my coaches to the side. Just trying to be the best I can be in the offense.

“In the past I feel like I didn’t do a good job having a relationship with my QB. With Austin, I’m trying to be around him more and learn from him.”

Ole Miss played Alexander and Wake Forest last season. The Rebels dominated in a 40-6 win. Alexander had four receptions for 29 yards. 

“Watching the scoreboard go up and the different ways they use guys in the offense, that definitely made an impact on my decision,” Alexander said. “I wish I could have played [Wake Forest], but it is what it is. Just moving forward now.”

“Deuce has had a great camp,” added sixth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. “He’s looked electric, dynamic. What we’d seen on [his Wake Forest] film, they didn’t throw him the ball very much. But we could see on film a guy that, if we had him, how much we’d want to give him the ball. He’s got great work ethic and in phenomenal condition.”

Practice Tidbits: Deuce Alexander keeps showing up for Ole Miss WR corps

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Alexander is already being relied upon in a reworked Ole Miss wide receiver corps.

The Rebels replaced Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins and Juice Wells with transfers De’Zhaun Stribling (Oklahoma State), Harrison Wallace (Penn State), Traylon Ray (West Virginia) and Caleb Odom (Alabama). They also signed 5-star recruit Caleb Cunningham and 4-star Winston Watkins, among others.

Stribling, Wallace and Ray are all mixing in with the practice units led by Simmons. Odom was moved to tight end following an injury to Arkansas transfer Luke Hasz. Hasz, according to sources, could return sooner than initially anticipated.

Ole Miss brought back Cayden Lee, who finished second on the team in receptions (49) as a sophomore. He didn’t record a single drop, the best mark in college football, and was third in receiving yards.

“Just every day we all come in to compete,” Alexander said. “We love to compete in the room. We compete with each other against the defense, [defensive backs]. Like, we make each other better by just pushing each other every day. We know it’s a crowded room. We know it’s a lot of talented guys. Everybody’s got their own skillset. We’re just competing with each other every day.

“I definitely don’t think it’s a negative thing. We all know what the goal is. At the end of the day, we’ve all got the same goal in mind, same mindset.”

Ultimately, Alexander is at Ole Miss to take his game to the next level. Literally.

“Just the coaching staff to begin with, and then just the history of the offense and receivers they put in the NFL,” he said. “That’s my end goal, go to the league. They have a lot of guys there. The proof is in the pudding of the offense, the history of it. So, definitely offense.”