Ole Miss has boosted their wide receiver arsenal by adding Deion Smith, the top-ranked JUCO receiver in the nation, to their squad. News of Smith being academically eligible to compete was first reported by Inside the Rebels last Wednesday, July 31.
Smith, who had to achieve the necessary grades in courses taken elsewhere, assured his imminent arrival to Oxford just as the news was announced, and followed through by arriving the next day. However, despite his arrival, Smith has yet to participate in any practices as he has not been officially cleared by the Ole Miss compliance office, according to head coach Lane Kiffin.
Speaking to the media after Monday’s practice, Kiffin was straightforward about the situation. “I don’t know, he’s not cleared to be practicing,” he remarked, shedding light on Smith’s pending official clearance to join the practice sessions.
Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound Smith commenced his collegiate career signing with LSU and making a modest impact with 11 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns over six games. Following academic challenges, Smith transferred to Holmes Community College, Mississippi, where he had a standout season in 2023. He secured first-team All-State honors in JUCO, with impressive stats of 48 receptions, 1,063 yards, and 12 touchdowns, boasting an average of 22.1 yards per catch and 132.9 yards per game.
After concluding his JUCO season, Smith signed with Ole Miss, expressing his readiness and excitement to join such a formidable group. “I’m excited,” Smith had told Inside the Rebels.
“I’m just ready to get to work. There ain’t no words to explain.”
He also credited former Ole Miss wide receiver Shay Hodge, who has been both a trainer and a mentor, for his development and readiness to play at Ole Miss. “He was very important. He’s a big part of the reason I’m able to be there right now,” said Smith about Hodge.
As Smith awaits clearance, he is set to join a stacked Ole Miss receiver group featuring returning players like Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, Cayden Lee, and Ayden Williams, alongside newcomers such as Antwane Wells and Devin Price from South Carolina. Smith’s eventual participation is highly anticipated in what is considered one of the SEC’s most talented and deep wide receiver rooms.
Ole Miss will continue its preparations with Inside the Rebels reporting from the practice field again on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
The team is gearing up for their season opener on Aug. 31 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium against Furman, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, available on both SECN+/ESPN+ and the Ole Miss Radio Network.
