The Rebels are strengthening their offensive line.
Ole Miss football is bolstering its roster with a standout addition from the transfer portal. The Rebels have secured a commitment from Patrick Kutas, the top offensive lineman in the portal according to 247 Sports. Kutas, a former Arkansas tackle, brings significant experience, having started for the Razorbacks over the past two seasons.
Kutas recently visited Ole Miss and marks a major win for head coach Lane Kiffin. The Rebels are leveraging the portal to assemble a team capable of making a College Football Playoff run.
Despite finishing the regular season with a 9-3 record, Ole Miss fell short of a CFP berth, with a narrow loss to Kentucky proving costly. Kentucky, notably, ended their season at 4-8.
Kutas’ departure is a significant blow for Arkansas. The Razorbacks, who finished the regular season 6-6, are retaining head coach Sam Pittman for another year despite ongoing struggles in Fayetteville.
Ole Miss is still looking for its first CFP appearance under Lane Kiffin
The Rebels entered the season with high hopes, as Lane Kiffin’s squad started ranked and fans were eager for a College Football Playoff appearance. However, Ole Miss fell short of those expectations. The Rebels suffered losses to LSU and Florida, along with a disappointing defeat to struggling Kentucky, which left fans frustrated.
Despite the setbacks, Ole Miss showcased some electrifying offensive performances, including a marquee SEC win over Georgia. Quarterback Jaxson Dart had an outstanding season, throwing for 3,875 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.
While missing the CFP was a letdown, the Rebels still have a consolation prize. They will face Duke in the Gator Bowl on January 2. The Blue Devils are dealing with their own challenges, as quarterback Maalik Murphy has announced he will not play in the game.
The announcement of Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy entering the transfer portal sparked frustration from Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who voiced concerns about how the portal disrupts bowl preparations. Duke head coach Manny Diaz also shared his frustrations regarding the challenges it poses for coaches.
“Like Manny said, we just try to make the best of the situations,” Kiffin remarked, as quoted by Sports Illustrated. “It’s honestly a really dumb system when you think about it—a quarterback entering the portal while the season isn’t even over. Imagine the NFL gearing up for the AFC and NFC playoffs, and players are already entering free agency. It’s a really poor system, but we just do our best to manage it and hope it gets fixed someday.”
Despite these frustrations, Ole Miss is undoubtedly thrilled about the addition of Patrick Kutas, a valuable asset from the portal who bolsters their roster.
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