In one of the most jaw-dropping twists of the year, the nation’s No. 1 player—an eye-catching 7-foot-tall athletic phenomenon—has sent shockwaves through both college football and the NFL by announcing he’s staying put at Ole Miss, turning down lucrative opportunities with the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
The announcement dropped like a bombshell late Wednesday night when the towering superstar took to social media to share his decision with a single message: “Unfinished Business. Hotty Toddy Forever.”
For weeks, rumors had swirled that the multi-sport talent—renowned for his freakish size, agility, and versatility—would make the leap to the NFL, where several franchises had lined up massive offers to sign him as a unique crossover player capable of dominating as a tight end or defensive end.
Yet in the end, the lure of the bright lights and bigger checks couldn’t pull him away from Oxford. Sources close to the program say his decision was fueled by unfinished goals, a deep love for Rebel Nation, and a promise to deliver a championship run that cements his legacy as one of the most remarkable athletes ever to wear the Ole Miss colors.
“This is about loyalty. It’s about legacy,” he said in an emotional video posted minutes after his announcement. “I came here to do something special, and I’m not leaving until we finish what we started.”
Head coach Lane Kiffin called the news “monumental,” saying, “When the No. 1 player in the country—who could easily be cashing NFL checks—chooses Ole Miss, it tells you everything about who we are and where we’re headed.”
With the 7-foot superstar back in Oxford, Rebel fans are dreaming bigger than ever—and the SEC just got put on notice: Ole Miss isn’t done shocking the world yet.
