Ole Miss Secures Multiple High-Profile Quarterback, Big Man Commitments

Ole Miss has significantly bolstered its football and basketball rosters for the 2025 season through key commitments and transfers. For football, the Rebels secured former Rice quarterback Shawqi Itraish, adding depth behind new starter Austin Simmons; Itraish, despite limited FBS experience and a challenging record, is the third transfer quarterback to join Ole Miss this offseason, which saw the Rebels rank No. 4 nationally in transfer portal acquisitions. In addition to Itraish, Ole Miss added quarterbacks Trinidad Chambliss from Ferris State and Maealiuaki Smith from Oklahoma State, further retooling their quarterback room under head coach Lane Kiffin. On the basketball side, Ole Miss landed a major recruit in Niko Bundalo, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Prolific Prep, who committed after parting ways with the University of Washington; Bundalo is ranked among the top 30 prospects nationally and is noted for his versatile skills and potential impact. Bundalo’s addition follows Ole Miss’s recent basketball success, including a 24-win season and a Sweet Sixteen appearance, signaling high expectations for the program’s continued growth under coach Chris Beard. These strategic moves underscore Ole Miss's strong recruiting momentum across multiple sports heading into 2025.