The Ole Miss Offense Needs Someone Besides Its Stars to Emerge
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The Ole Miss Offense Needs Someone Besides Its Stars to Emerge
Nov 28, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Kewan Lacy (5) celebrates with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) and wide receiver Deuce Alexander (11) after scoring a touchdown against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first half at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Cooper Ferguson·Ole Miss Rebels On SI
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4 min read
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Say goodbye to the bye week, the Ole Miss Rebels are headed back to Nashville for the second time this campaign.
Playing an SEC schedule is a blessing and a curse. One on end, heading to Vanderbilt looks to be a respite before a back-to-back with No. 14 Missouri (who just stomped Florida 45-17) and No. 1 Texas in Austin. On the other, this unranked Vanderbilt team is still a threat, coming off of its greatest season in school history last year.
Sep 19, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Horatio Fields (11) catches the ball as LSU Tigers cornerback PJ Woodland (11) defends during the fourth quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There is no lack of depth when it comes to Ole Miss offensive firepower. The receiver room reads beautifully on paper and Lacy's deputies at running back all either have high-level collegiate experience or came to Oxford as top-ranked high school recruits.
If that's the case, why is Alexander forced to pick up all the slack of the players around him? Of course, Traylon Ray and Horatio Fields have been trending upwards, along with Caleb Odom who has established himself as the main receiving tight end, relegating Luke Hasz to more of a sixth offensive lineman role.
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Ray burst onto the scene for the Rebels against LSU, headlining an incredible offensive effort at the Vaught Sept. 26th. Going for 115 yards and a touchdown facing a solid Tigers' secondary, Ray rose to the occasion in what was the most highly anticipated game of the year, if not of the decade.
Odom has been a breath of fresh air after the exit of Dae'Quan Wright to eligibility and the continuing lack of production from Luke Hasz. Odom is a fan's tight end in my eyes, as blocking is nowhere near as flashy as blazing go-routes that make him appear more like a towering wide receiver as he gallops downfield. Second in yards and third in receptions, Odom does not feel right to be deemed as the next breakout guy, as he really is already there.
Fields is truly a question mark in the Rebel ranks. Coming off a five-reception, 50-yard day against LSU, Fields did not show up when needed in Gainesville. With just one reception on a day when Chambliss needed another target to step up, Fields has not displayed enough consistency relative to the chances he has been given.
A Star For the Present and Future
Sep 26, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Caleb Cunningham (3) attempts to make a catch over Florida Gators safety Alfonzo Allen Jr. (43) and Florida Gators cornerback Dijon Johnson (27) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Let the kid play. Caleb Cunningham has all the intangibles to become the guy for the Rebels as soon as this Saturday against the Commodores. It only gets better when you realize Cunningham is just a redshirt freshman.
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The Mississippi born and raised receiver came to the Rebels the top ranked player at his position in the state and one of the highest touted receiving prospects in the nation. Featuring just three times in his debut campaign, Cunningham still showed enough to be listed on the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year watchlist for his redshirt season.
While Cunningham has just 93 yards through four games, the young receiver will likely be overlooked by opposing defensive coordinators, making him even more likely to fly under the radar and break out in Nashville.
Cunningham has all it takes to be a star in Oxford, and the sooner he gets off the mark, the future gets only brighter for the Ole Miss Rebels.
