Ole Miss in good hands with JT Lindsey if Kewan Lacy can't play

Ole Miss running back JT Lindsey. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Ole Miss in good hands with JT Lindsey if Kewan Lacy can't play

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Sep 21, 2026 9:16 PM ET

The No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels are certainly hoping that star running back Kewan Lacy will be able to play in Week 4 against the No. 21 Florida Gators.

This is yet another big game for the Rebels. It won't have the heat of the previous contest against former head coach Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers, but this is still an SEC contest against a ranked opponent.

It's also the first road game of the season for the Rebs, so having the junior All-American available would be a huge plus for Pete Golding and staff.

Lacy suffered a left shoulder injury in the second half of this past Saturday's win over LSU, which was bad enough that he didn't return.

He did feel good enough to want to play and fight through the pain, but Golding kept him out as a precaution. Now, heading into his game against Florida, Lacy is considered a game-time decision. He will try to practice this week and, obviously, he'll try to play.

Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy is a game-time decision this week at Florida, Pete Golding announced.

Sustained a left shoulder injury in the LSU win.https://t.co/KZBqMVNqLO pic.twitter.com/XvYjnr2qxf
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) September 21, 2026

The good news for Ole Miss is that even if Lacy can't go against Florida, the Rebels do have a more than suitable replacement in redshirt freshman JT Lindsey.

Ole Miss has a great backup running back in JT Lindsey if Kewan Lacy can't play vs. Florida

Sure, there's a drop-off between an All-American and just about anyone else, but Lindsey looked good against LSU when the Rebels asked him to carry the load after Lacy went out.

He carried the ball four times for 20 yards, averaging a strong 5.9 yards per carry, and also added one catch for eight yards.

Again, there's going to be some natural drop-off if Lacy can't go or is limited, but Lindsey ran hard against LSU in a big spot and proved himself worthy of more snaps if the Rebels need to give them to him.

Keep in mind, this LSU game was also a big spot for him personally. A former four-star recruit out of Alexandria, Louisiana, in the class of 2025, Lindsey had committed to LSU out of high school, where he took a redshirt season before hitting the transfer portal and winding up at Ole Miss.

"Big-play back who's carried a high-volume workload and likely possesses enough physical development ahead of him to do so at the next level," was the 2024 scouting report from Gabe Brooks of 247Sports on Lindsey.

He may not be an All-American, but if Lacy needs more time to heal up, the Rebels can certainly trust Lindsey in this big spot on the road against the Gators.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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