Lane Kiffin and his squad impressed everyone this week. In what was being seen as a tough matchup for the Rebels, they overpowered the Bulldogs rather easily, exposing Kirby Smart’s team’s weakness in offense. Currently enjoying their bye week, Ole Miss has two more games left this season, and if they have any hopes of making it to the 12-team playoffs, they have to win both. Kiffin’s eyes are, of course, set on that, but for a head coach in college football, you can’t help but plan for the future. What do you need for that? Commitments. And with one such commitment, Rebels’ head coach is looking to have one over Kalen DeBoer and Alabama.

John Garcia Jr., a national college football recruiting analyst, shared a tweet that is not only going to disappoint DeBoer but Tide fans as well: “Massive flip. Ole Miss keeps the top in-state recruit home. No doubt the hottest team on the trail @RebelGrove.” Who are we talking about here? Caleb Cunnigham. Did he just ditch Alabama? Yes, he did so. The 5-star wideout talent who hails from Mississippi decommitted from Alabama and chose to stay home and attend the University of Mississippi.

Cunningham made is officual with three words, “Home is home!.” His decommitment is going to be a major setback for Alabama but they are still the No. 2 overall recruiting class for 2025, according to 247Sports, which is a good thing.

Lane Kiffin and his staff are on the right path and now, with Cunningham’s commitment, they have climbed to No. 16. Cunningham now joins three-star Dillon Alfred and Samari Reed. Moving forward, let’s see what made him flip his decision.

Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss’s recruitment efforts pay off

Caleb Cunningham would have made a huge impact on Alabama’s offensive line. He has decided his fate and chosen not to follow in the footsteps of another young talent, Ryan Williams. But will he regret his decision in the future?

In October, Cunningham had a conversation with Rivals where he clearly stated that Ole Miss never gave up on him. “I actually feel good about Ole Miss.” The wide receiver added, “They haven’t stopped recruiting me since day one. They definitely show that they really want me. The coaching staff is telling me why I should come there. They have good reasons. They always tell me to stick to the facts. They’re also telling me I could start as a freshman.” His statements clearly say that efforts matter for him. Lane Kiffin and the staff did a better job there. And who would not like to start as a freshman?

However, his decision has definitely marked a significant shift in the recruiting landscape. But making a name in college football is not easy. We have seen many big players like Carson Beck and Jalen Milroe struggling this season. However, his decision is seen as a crucial win for Ole Miss. Can he become a key player for Kiffin’s offense and help them win games?