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Trace Bruckler has helped bring stability to in-flux Ole Miss tight end room

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett08/20/25SpiritBen
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Ole Miss TE Trace Bruckler (Photo credit: Trace Bruckler/Instagram)

Ole Miss football is well-stocked at tight end, even after losing Caden Prieskorn to the NFL Draft and Arkansas transfer Luke Hasz to injury. 

Hasz underwent surgery to repair a fractured ankle on July 18. The thought at first was he’d be out until October, if not longer. Sources told Rebel Grove earlier this month the current working expectation is he’ll be back after the first or second game.

But even without him Ole Miss hasn’t missed much of a beat at all during fall camp. The Rebels are midway through their final week of practices in advance of the 2025-26 season opener against Georgia State.

A big reason why is New Mexico transfer Trace Bruckler.

“It was a little difficult transferring,” Bruckler said this week. “That was my first time. I graduated from New Mexico. Spent four years there. I kind of had a chip on my shoulder. I knew I was an older guy. So, I had to just blend in from the start.”

Former 5-star recruit Caleb Odom, a transfer from Alabama, was moved to tight end following the injury to Hasz. He was nowhere to be found the two practices media was allowed to view this week. 

Bruckler, meanwhile, has been a constant and steady as they come behind veteran Dae’Quan Wright. Wright returns as the No. 1 at the position and has had a good camp, even as Ole Miss has taken it easy with him. 

RELATED: Meet the Transfers: Early expectations for Ole Miss transfers, looking ahead

The 6-foot-3, 244-pound Bruckler appeared in 39 games (24 starts) for New Mexico.

He had 46 receptions for 421 yards and five touchdowns.

“Probably the climate,” Bruckler said of the biggest adjustment from New Mexico to Ole Miss. “That’s the hardest thing during fall camp — practicing in a climate where it’s 0 percent humidity, 85, sunny outside with a nice breeze. It’s tough coming to the South and it’s 95 and 70 percent humidity. 

“I love it here. I’m from Dallas, Texas, so it’s kind of in the middle of both. It’s about nine hours on each side, so it’s kind of the best of both worlds here. This is a little more Deep South, but that’s where my family’s from, so I’m really loving it here.”

Bruckler has quickly emerged as a veteran leader for the tight ends and valued special teams member, too. 

He’ll have a role come Georgia State is the point.

“Me and Hayden [Bradley] got close as soon as I got here,” Bruckler said. “I could see the potential in him. Obviously coach [Joe] Cox and the staff does, too. As a vet, that’s kind of the things we’ve got to do for guys like that.”

Bruckler believes in the Ole Miss offense, especially with Austin Simmons taking over as the team’s starting quarterback.

“He’s as talented as ever,” Bruckler said of Simmons. “His leadership is amazing — getting guys together off the field, especially on the field. When things aren’t going the best, he always calls us up as an offensive unit and just says, ‘Hey, guys, come on. Next-play mentality. We’ve got to keep going. We’ve got to keep finishing.’ You’ve got to have a quarterback like that. I know Jaxson [Dart] was like that. I wasn’t here for that, but I know he was a great leader. Austin’s the same way.”

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