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There will be no rest for Ole Miss Rebels ' coaches Lane Kiffin and Pete Golding this offseason when it comes to recruitment. The Rebels picked up their seventh transfer commit of the first portal cycle on Saturday afternoon when former Tennessee Volunteers safety Tamarion McDonald announced his pledge to Ole Miss via social media.
You can find McDonald's announcement here. The former three-star recruit's announcement comes less than 24 hours after the Rebels earned a commitment from the No. 3 player in the portal, former Florida Gators edge Princely Umanmielen.
The Rebels are in the process of rejuvenating their secondary, as McDonald is the fourth defensive back recruited so far. The Memphis, Tenn., native will be a welcome addition to Golding's defense, as the former Vol totaled 95 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in the last two seasons.
In four years at Tennessee, McDonald registered 115 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, one sack, four interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. McDonald demonstrated tremendous versatility at safety and on special teams for the Vols, serving at Tennesse's STAR position, meaning he was a hybrid safety who could also line up at outside linebacker - think of Ladarius Tennison.
According to On3 rankings, McDonald was rated as the No. 16 player in the state of Tennessee and the No. 43 safety in the 2020 recruitment cycle.
The Rebels have been dominating the portal since it opened for business a week ago, and have so far recruited the No. 3 transfer class in the nation, per On3.
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Texas Tech gets big recruiting win with 2027 five-star defender
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire is doing a great job of building the Red Raiders into a program that looks like it can compete for a long time in the new-look Big 12. He's gone 23-16 in three seasons in Lubbock, and the Red Raiders should be extremely competitive in the conference this season. The conference is wide open, and McGuire has been working hard to position his squad accordingly. Texas Tech's 2025 class was ranked No. 21 in the country. The 2026 class is currently ranked No. 26 nationally but several big-time prospects have gone the Red Raiders' way, including five-star offensive lineman Felix Ojo and four-star wide receiver Chase Campbell. Tech is now off to a hot start on the 2027 recruiting trail as well, as it was announced on Thursday that five-star edge-rusher LaDamion Guyton from Savannah, Georgia committed to McGuire and his staff. Texas Tech offered Guyton in May, he visited Lubbock in June and now, in August, he's committed. It was the visit that really made the Red Raiders stand out to him. “The best thing about the visit was just feeling at home,” he said, according to Chad Simmons of Rivals. “I wanted to get away, try something new — and the people there made it easy. The people make me feel like family. You can tell what’s real and what’s fake, and they’re real at Texas Tech. It felt like family. Nothing weird, nothing forced — it is all natural with them.” To say that this is a massive recruiting win for Tech would be an understatement. According to the 247Sports Composite, Guyton is the No. 1 edge-rusher in the 2027 class and the No. 2 recruit overall. He's also the top player from Georgia. The Georgia Bulldogs are certainly going to try to flip Guyton and get him to stay in-state and, per Rivals, South Carolina may be a factor as well. For what it's worth, the five-star isn't completely shutting things down on the recruiting trail. “I’ll still take some visits, and I’m always going to listen,” he said. “But once I pick a school, I zero in. I feel good about the commitment after the talks we have had, but I will go to games and take visits.” McGuire and the Red Raiders really seemed to make an impact on Guyon, though, so as long as McGuire is the head coach in Lubbock, the Red Raiders are a good bet to hold on to this commitment. “Coach McGuire cares about his players — every coach there does. They have something going on. The energy in the program is real, and it’s growing," Guyton said.
Steelers Now Have A Surefire Solution To End Cam Heyward's Hold-In
The Pittsburgh Steelers got hit with quite a bit of interesting news on Thursday. It started when NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward was staging a hold-in, attending training camp but not fully participating as he seeks a new contract. Not long after that, kicker Chris Boswell was also reported to be interested in a new deal, adding another contract situation to the team’s growing list of concerns. As for Heyward, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly quickly suggested a possible solution that could effectively end the hold-in without requiring a full contract extension. Kaboly proposed the idea of adding incentives to Heyward’s existing deal, which would reward performance while avoiding a long-term financial commitment. He believes this compromise would allow the Steelers to show respect for Heyward’s contributions while keeping the team’s salary cap in check. Kaboly explained that the Steelers used a similar approach in 2016 with star wide receiver Antonio Brown. At the time, Brown was also seeking a new deal, and instead of offering an extension, the team added incentives to his contract to keep him satisfied for the season. The move kept Brown on the field and productive, and Kaboly believes this method could work just as well for Heyward, helping resolve the situation without complicating the team’s financial outlook. "Steelers don't restructure contracts until a year out, but Cam Heyward has 2 years remaining on his deal," Kaboly posted on his social media. "Here is the kicker and this is what I would use if I were Heyward: The Steelers worked some funny math with Antonio Brown in 2016 to get him a $4 million raise." Heyward just received a new deal ahead of the 2024 season. Now, Kaboly is pointing out that with two years remaining on his contract, the Steelers typically don’t restructure deals until there’s only one year left. However, Kaboly believes that if the team follows the same approach they used with Brown, it could help resolve Heyward’s situation. "They moved $4 million of AB's 2017 money to 2016, then tore up the contract in 2017 and made him the highest-paid WR in the NFL," Kaboly said. "AB got a $4 million raise, and the Steelers were able to keep their long-standing policy intact." Both sides could technically come out ahead with this approach. The money was going to Heyward anyway, but by advancing a portion of it to this year, he gets earlier financial recognition without requiring a full extension. Then, when the time comes to negotiate a new deal, both parties can do so in good faith, working toward a contract that makes sense for everyone involved. For now, moving some money forward would be a clear sign of appreciation for Heyward’s contributions and an acknowledgment of how the market has shifted for elite defensive linemen. It would also allow the Steelers to maintain their long-standing policy of waiting until a player enters the final year of his contract before negotiating an extension. Ultimately, it’s a short-term financial gesture that builds trust and buys time for a more permanent solution. Steelers And Cam Heyward Both Could Come Out As Winners This approach not only benefits Heyward financially in the short term but also helps preserve the relationship between the player and the organization. It shows the Steelers value his contributions and want to keep him motivated without rushing into long-term decisions prematurely. By handling things this way, the team retains flexibility in managing their salary cap and future roster moves. It also avoids the potential pitfalls of a large extension that might limit options later. For Heyward, it offers a sense of security and respect while keeping open the door for a more comprehensive agreement when the time is right.
The Lakers could have another undrafted gem on their hands
In a summer dominated by LeBron James and Luka Doncic headlines, the Los Angeles Lakers may have quietly struck gold once again in the UDFA market, this time with former Villanova standout Eric Dixon. After initially agreeing to a two-way contract following the 2024–25 NBA Draft, Dixon’s path to the professional ranks was temporarily delayed due to injury, forcing him to miss Summer League. The Lakers, however, remained invested in the 24-year-old forward, eventually signing him to an Exhibit 10 deal, a move that keeps him in the pipeline and positions him as a potential breakout candidate through the G League. Dixon brings one of the most decorated resumes in college basketball. The 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward led all Division I scorers last season, averaging 23.3 points per game while shooting an impressive 40.7% from beyond the arc on 7.2 attempts per contest, a remarkable transformation for a player once seen as a traditional low-post presence. He concluded his five-year career at Villanova as the school’s all-time leading scorer, finishing with 2,314 points and etching his name into Big East history. While concerns around his age and lateral quickness may have contributed to him being passed over in the draft, Dixon’s refined skill set and ability to stretch the floor make him a strong fit in today’s NBA. He delivered in big moments throughout the season, including a 38-point outburst against Maryland on Nov. 11, and consistently carried the offensive load for the Wildcats. With his Exhibit 10 deal, Dixon is expected to begin the season with the South Bay Lakers, where he’ll aim to prove he’s healthy and ready to make an immediate impact. If he performs as expected, a return to a two-way contract, and possibly NBA minutes, could be on the horizon. The Lakers have developed a reputation for identifying and nurturing overlooked talent, with Austin Reaves and Alex Caruso emerging as prime examples. Dixon, with his offensive versatility and physical readiness, could be next in line. In a loaded Western Conference, unearthing low-cost contributors is more important than ever. Dixon might just be the next hidden gem to emerge from the Lakers’ development pipeline.
Lions CB undergoes shoulder surgery, will miss 2025 season
Ennis Rakestraw will not play in 2025. The second-year corner was already known to be a candidate to miss time, but the Lions placed him on injured reserve Thursday. Only players released via an injury settlement are eligible to play after being moved to IR at this point in the offseason. Given his status as a 2024 second-round pick, that will obviously not be the case for Rakestraw. After what was essentially a redshirt rookie season, this news is a significant blow for team and player. Lions head coach Dan Campbell recently said Rakestraw was going to miss time due to a shoulder injury. Surgery took place on Thursday, and NFL insider Jordan Schultz notes the procedure was a success. That is of course only a small consolation considering the fact Rakestraw’s rehab process will cost him the entire campaign. The 23-year-old logged just 141 total snaps across eight games last season. A starting cornerback role was not in play since Detroit still has Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson in the fold and replaced Carlton Davis with D.J. Reed via free agency. Still, Rakestraw was in position to occupy a backup spot on the perimeter, so an injury to Arnold or Reed could have elevated him to first-team action. Now, the Lions’ secondary depth will be tested after the unit dealt with numerous injuries last season. Luq Barcoo and D.J. Miller were signed earlier this week. Veteran Avonte Maddox represents an experienced option amongst the team’s remaining backups, although he is best suited for slot and/or safety duties. Rock Ya-Sin has spent his entire career as a corner, but the Lions have tried him at safety this offseason. In the wake of Rakestraw’s injury, it will be interesting to see that plan changes and Ya-Sin’s attention turns back to the cornerback position. With nearly $48M in cap space, Detroit can easily afford a one-year deal amongst the remaining free agents at the CB spot. Asante Samuel Jr., Rasul Douglas and Kendall Fuller are some of the veterans still looking for a gig at this point in the offseason. With a vacancy in the secondary, it will be interesting to see if the Lions pursue a contract with any member of that trio or another cover man on the market.
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