Jonathan Maldonado is at Ole Miss 'strictly to get better'

OXFORD – Jonathan Maldonado had never been to the South. But he knew it’s where the best college football was played, particularly up front. And at this point in the defensive end’s career, he was ready to win some games.

Maldonado, a Monrovia, California native, played his first four collegiate seasons at Nevada . While the Wolf Pack never won more than three games in a season during his tenure, Maldonado found individual success, finishing the 2025 season with nine tackles-for-loss and five sacks. He entered the transfer portal in December and quickly chose Ole Miss to be the destination for his final collegiate season. It was a program he could “focus on ball” as he “came here for my last year strictly to get better.”

“I committed in … two days within the portal opening. I knew I wanted to come to one of the best in the nation,” Maldonado said. “Ole Miss had a really good year this last year. The South definitely has the best football, in my opinion, especially trenches-wise.”

Maldonado said he has gained 15 pounds in less than four months on campus, taking advantage of the nutritional programs Nevada didn’t necessarily have. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder had 29 hurries last season for the Wolf Pack, according to Pro Football Focus. Maldonado was asked about his playinig style and strengths and, before anything else, he held out his arms to his side, parallel to the ground. Maldonado wasn’t sure of his exact arm length, he told reporters – he threw 70-ish inches out there as a possibility – but he knew the numbers were top-tier. He also mentioned his relentlessness on the field.

“I don’t think there’s any … play whether it’s in practice at Nevada or the last four years where I’m walking, jogging or not really caring about whatever the play or the sport has to offer,” Maldonado said. “ … I love football, man.”

The Rebels are in need of proven pass rushers following the transfer of Princewill Umanmielen , who led Ole Miss with nine sacks last season. Ole Miss returns junior defensive tackle Will Echoles and junior defensive end Kam Franklin and their combined 20.5 tackles-for-loss in addition to senior linebacker Suntarine Perkins and his 18.5-career sacks. The Rebels also added four-star transfer edge rushers Blake Purchase ( Oregon ) and Jordan Renaud ( Alabama ), who had six combined tackles-for-loss last season.

“I’m getting better every day just being around that type of energy,” Maldonado said of his new teammates.

Ole Miss is coming off a season where it won a program-record 13 games, made its first College Football Playoff appearance and advanced all the way to the semifinals. Seeing that success played a part in his decision to relocate more than 2,000 miles from Reno, Nevada, too.

“I will not lie to you, that played a little bit in it. I want to be a part of a championship, man,” Maldonado said. “We didn’t win too much at the University of Nevada. I want to win. I want to win a championship, whether it’s SEC, national, whatever it may be.”