Ole Miss Bolsters Defense Through Transfer Portal

The invention of the transfer portal and NIL has essentially created free agency in college football. And while it does have its benefits, there are also plenty of downsides to the madness, as well. For elite units, they can find themselves decimated by the portal, as guys may be looking for more playing time or money. But for struggling units, it can create faster turnarounds. This is due to the easier nature of finding and replacing those struggling pieces. That is clearly the strategy of the Ole Miss defense through this year’s portal season.

Despite making it to the College Football Playoff semifinals, the Ole Miss defense was largely average this season. They finished the season ranked 37th nationally in scoring defense. As for total defense, they came in at 48th. And being just one year removed from having one of the country’s best defenses in 2024, there was no doubt that changes were going to be made. Those changes were then amplified with Lane Kiffin’s departure, and former defensive coordinator Pete Golding was named the Rebels’ newest head coach. Obviously, defense is going to become a bigger area of focus in Oxford.

So, who are some of the biggest names Ole Miss landed on defense through the transfer portal? And what kind of impact can they have on the Rebels as we look towards the 2026 season?

Key Transfer Portal Additions For Ole Miss Defense

Joenel Aguero

Joenel Aguero immediately improves one of the biggest problems with the Ole Miss defense: tackling. In the class of 2023, Aguero was ranked as the nation’s second-best safety, according to 247Sports. Out of high school, he committed to Kirby Smart and Georgia, where he’s spent the past three seasons. In that time, he’s become known as a hard-hitting safety who will certainly bring physicality to the back end of your secondary.

For Ole Miss, this is exactly what they’re looking for. The Rebel secondary struggled to tackle this season, and at times, looked like they lacked the physicality of some of the other teams on their schedule. Aguero is a remedy to those problems. He’s a sure tackler and is certain to be a big hitter.

If there is a concern, it’s that he can struggle at times in coverage. With him now needing to learn a new system, that will be something to keep an eye on. However, his physicality and ability as a tackler should outweigh those concerns. Expect Aguero to likely be a week one starter for the Rebels in 2026.

Keaton Thomas

Keaton Thomas falls into a similar category for Ole Miss. The 6’2, 230-pound linebacker started his college career at West Virginia in 2022, before transferring to Northeast MS Community College in 2023. Following a season of JUCO ball, he landed at Baylor, where he’s spent the past two seasons. And it’s safe to say he made the most of his time in Waco.

In two seasons at Baylor, Thomas combined for 219 tackles, with 117 of those being solo tackles. He also recorded 14 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions. This goes to show that he’s a sure tackler, but also possesses the speed and power to get into the backfield, if needed.

And with starter TJ Dottery now at LSU, Ole Miss finds itself in need of another veteran linebacker. For an Ole Miss team that has grown accustomed to solid linebacker play over the past few years, there’s optimism that Thomas can be yet another Rebel linebacker who ultimately takes that next step during his time in Oxford.

Blake Purchase

One key late addition to the Ole Miss roster is Blake Purchase. As an edge rusher at Oregon for the past three seasons, he’s slowly seeming to reach his full potential. This season, he appeared in all 15 games for the Ducks, totaling 32 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Despite the average numbers, it was still the best of his career to this point.

However, the hope for the Rebels is that he can reach that full potential in Oxford. Listed at 6′-3,” 245 pounds, he has solid size as an edge rusher. He also comes with good speed around the end. And with drama surrounding whether Princewill Umanmielen will be returning as a Rebel, Purchase may end up being the guy Ole Miss looks to on the edge to make plays. If that ends up being the case, while he’s still a bit of a work in progress, he does possess tremendous upside to become an every-down starter in the SEC.

Jehiem Oatis

Jehiem Oatis falls into a similar category as Purchase. The one difference is where they play on the line. Where Purchase plays on the edge, Oatis plans on the interior, but is still seeking to reach his full potential. Oatis started his career at Alabama, where he saw significant playing time in his first two seasons. However, in his third year in Tuscaloosa, he only appeared in one game. He then entered the transfer portal prior to last season, ending up at Colorado. As a Buffalo, he appeared in six games, totaling only nine tackles.

Now, he comes to Oxford clearly seeking a fresh start. At 6′-5,” 345 pounds, he clearly has the size to play on the inside against elite competition. However, there are some injury concerns, which is partially why he’s seen limited playing time. There are also some concerns about his athleticism. He’s big enough to take up space on the inside and create trouble in running lanes. But he also hasn’t presented much as a pass rusher.

If he can stay healthy and improve as a pass rusher, Oatis has the chance to be a difference maker for the Rebels. If not, he can at least add a bit of needed depth on the inside, even if it isn’t as a starter.