Ole Miss Rebels and Pete Golding’s latest transfer portal wins should secure bright future on offense in Oxford
Ole Miss locked in two more top tier running back transfer portal talents in Joshua Dye and Makhi Frazier.
The Ole Miss Rebels and new head coach Pete Golding continue to put together a ridiculously impressive haul via the transfer portal. Yes, it’s been a bit disappointing to see a few key players like linebacker TJ Dottery and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen depart, but overall, Golding and his Rebels staff just keep stacking wins.
The Ole Miss Rebels are returning several key offensive players for 2026 already (and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ lawsuit is still up in the air), like running back Kewan Lacy, and a good portion of the offensive linemen. Now, thanks to two big additions, Ole Miss is set to make sure its elite running game remains atop the SEC for 2026 and beyond.
Kewan Lacy gets an immediate backfield partner in Joshua Dye
Kewan Lacy was a monster of a running back this past year, setting single-season Ole Miss records in rushing touchdowns (with 24) and rushing yards (tied Quinshon Judkins). However, it was clear that Ole Miss could have benefited from having another runner, so Lacy could stay fresh. He tallied nearly 900 snaps last year. The next closest running back on the team to him saw 174 (Logan Diggs).
Enter Joshua Dye from Southern Utah. Ole Miss added him on Sunday, and despite the lower level of competition, Rebels fans should be more excited about Dye than perhaps any offensive addition outside of quarterback Deuce Knight.
Dye racked up insane statistical production last year and has two more seasons of remaining eligibility, so even after Lacy leaves for the NFL in 2027, Ole Miss fans should have a potential feature back to trust. I asked one of our A to Z Sports college football insiders, Ryan Roberts (who is familiar with Dye and his agent), about Dye. Here’s what he had to say about the addition for the Rebels:
“Heading into the 2025 season, Dye wasn’t well known from a national perspective on the FCS level. Despite that lack of hype, he proceeded to become arguably the best runner in the FCS, rushing for 1,831 yards and 28 touchdowns. At around 5-11 (generous) and 205 pounds, Dye is built low to the ground, showing a nice center of gravity to work through arm tackles. While his top speed is just average, Dye has good overall explosiveness that helps him reach it quickly. He also has a nice blend of short-area quickness and a no-nonsense approach that creates hidden yardage. While Dye is best utilized as a part of a committee approach, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him develop into a good starter for Ole Miss.” – Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports Notre Dame
In short, Ole Miss fans should be ecstatic. He isn’t quite the athlete that Lacy is, so he should just operate as a trustworthy direct backup who can flourish with significant work when called upon. Then, in 2027, there’s a chance he’s the lead back, or at least the head of a strong committee that keeps the Ole Miss offense thriving.
Ole Miss adds Makhi Frazier to Rebels’ running back room
As if one solid, proven running back addition wasn’t enough, Ole Miss went ahead and brought in Makhi Frazier on Tuesday from Michigan State. Frazier worked his way into a significant role immediately this past season for the Spartans, logging multiple games with over 100 rushing yards, tallying over 600 yards from scrimmage on the year.
He missed some time down the stretch as he was dinged up for several weeks, limiting what could have become a special season. Frazier will now hope his talents carry him into a significant role with Ole Miss — if not immediately in 2026, at least in 2027.
It’s still too early to crown Dye as the RB2 with 100% certainty, but he likely will be to start the season. Frazier, at 5-10, 218 pounds, with plenty of explosion and speed, could work his way into a rotational role.
However, given that he has at least two years of eligibility remaining, Ole Miss fans might just want to look forward to seeing him dominate in 2027. Either way, the Rebels seem to have fixed their running back depth issues and are building toward a bright future in 2026 and beyond.
We’ll be back with more Ole Miss Rebels coverage here at A to Z Sports soon. Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news.
