Many believed that Lane Kiffin’s decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU after six seasons would deal a serious blow to the Rebels’ roster and their College Football Playoff aspirations.
Instead, under new head coach Pete Golding, the program hasn’t skipped a beat. More importantly, Golding has the entire roster fully bought in — not just for the current CFP run, but for what lies ahead as well.
On Monday, Ole Miss star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss announced his intention to return to Oxford next season, pending approval for a sixth year of eligibility.
Just hours later, running back Kewan Lacy signed a new deal with the Rebels, confirming his return despite Kiffin bringing offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and running backs coach Kevin Smith with him to LSU.
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Lacy earned First Team All-SEC honors and ranks third nationally in rushing yards with 1,464, serving as the anchor of the Rebels’ offense all season long.
After transferring from Missouri following the 2024 season, Lacy has taken a massive leap. He has recorded 295 carries and, in addition to his rushing production, has totaled 23 touchdowns while adding 28 receptions for 173 yards.
For Golding, securing Lacy’s return — along with the potential return of Chambliss — is absolutely massive for what Ole Miss could accomplish beyond just this season as the Rebels prepare for the CFP semifinals against Miami on Thursday night.
It was crucial that Golding not only remained true to himself after taking over for Kiffin, but also showed the team he was the right man for the job. After playoff wins over Tulane and Georgia, he has quickly put any doubt to rest and will now return what is arguably the best running back in the country for his junior season.
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