Ole Miss lands former Oklahoma State quarterback Maealiuaki Smith from the college football transfer portal to succeed Jaxson Dart
With Jaxson Dart no longer at Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin is on the lookout for a new leader. He may have found his next quarterback in former Oklahoma State player Maealiuaki Smith, who has committed to the Rebels from the college football transfer portal.
Smith made his commitment official by signing with Ole Miss on Tuesday, according to Pete Nakos of On3 Sports. Although he played in only four games as a true freshman in 2024, he potentially has four years of eligibility left. He is the second former Oklahoma State player to join Ole Miss from the portal, following wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, who signed at the end of the 2024 season.
During a challenging 2024 season for the Cowboys, Smith started two games in place of struggling seventh-year senior Alan Bowman. He had a standout performance in his first start against Texas Tech, throwing for 316 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, earning the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week award. By the end of the year, he totaled 489 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Smith now joins a quarterback group at Ole Miss that includes sophomore Austin Simmons, Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss, Louisville transfer Pierce Clarkson, and Tennessee State transfer George Hamsley. After serving as Dart’s backup in 2024, Simmons is the only returning member of the quarterback room.
While Dart leaves a significant gap to fill, Smith offers Kiffin an intriguing set of options. Simmons brings familiarity with the system, and Chambliss arrives after winning a Division II national title, but at first glance, Smith appears to be the best option among them.
Ole Miss filling roster through college football transfer portal
With eight players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, Ole Miss faces a rebuilding phase after one of its most successful periods in recent memory. The Rebels, spearheaded by defensive tackle Walter Nolen, saw a record-setting five players chosen in the first two nights of the draft.
The drafted players included wide receivers Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins, cornerback Tre Amos, linebacker Chris Paul Jr., and defensive linemen Princely Umanmielen and J.J. Pegues. Additionally, several other former standouts, such as tight end Caden Prieskorn and wide receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells, signed with teams as undrafted free agents.
In light of these significant departures, Kiffin has focused on rebuilding via the transfer portal. The team returns only four starters in 2025—three on offense and one on defense. Ole Miss has added several new players from the college football transfer portal, including Stribling, Harrison Wallace III, Kewan Lacy, Damien Taylor, and Princewill Umanmielen, who is the younger brother of Princely.
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