The offseason is in full swing for every college football program. Many are getting ready for spring practice, which has crept up fast. For most teams, spring ball is less than two weeks away. For others, it’s already started. In the case of the Ole Miss Rebels, they’re set to kick things off for the Spring on March 23rd. As we start to prepare for camp, let’s look at a position that gets overlooked for most teams, but for the Rebels, has been huge in recent years: tight ends. For the Ole Miss tight ends, there’s plenty of potential. But a lot of them are lacking experience. This makes this position group one to keep an eye on for 2026.
Despite seemingly being open on a majority of plays, tight ends don’t get the same attention or recognition they deserve, as they oftentimes go unnoticed. However, at Ole Miss, that has begun to shift. Under Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr, the tight end became a primary target for the quarterback. And with new offensive coordinator John David Baker having coached under Kiffin and running a similar system to Weis, we can expect that to continue.
So who are the primary tight end options for the Rebels, and what can we expect from each?
The Ole Miss Tight Ends
Caleb Odom
This is a bit of a wild card for Ole Miss. That is because Caleb Odom may line up at tight end, but he gets used more as a receiver. After starting his college career at Alabama, he transferred to Oxford after his freshman season. In his first year as a Rebel, he saw limited playing time, but did put up decent numbers in those snaps. During his sophomore season, he caught 19 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns.
Now, entering his second year at Ole Miss, it’s likely he sees more playing time. But whether that is at tight end or wide receiver remains to be seen. While listed as a tight end, he weighs roughly 225 pounds, which puts him on the thinner side for the position. This can give him an advantage in the passing game, as he is quicker than most others at the position. But in terms of blocking, it has its downsides.
Regardless of where he lines up, Odom is going to see more opportunity this season, even if it’s as a hybrid of the two positions.
Luke Hasz
Luke Hasz is going to be the more traditional tight end for the Rebels. Listed at 6′-3,” 240, he’s a bit shorter than Odom, but is bigger, which allows him to be an asset in terms of blocking. After transferring to Ole Miss from Arkansas, he’s now set to begin his second season in Oxford. Last year, he saw minimal playing time, as he missed the first half of the season with an injury. In that time, he only caught three passes for 28 yards. However, this season, he is almost certainly going to get more playing time, as he starts the year off fully healthy.
The other side of Hasz is that he won’t blow you away athletically, and he won’t ever be a guy that catches a ton of passes. However, he was the number two tight end in the transfer portal in 2025 for good reason. He’s a good blocker and can find spaces in the defense for easy completions, if needed. And in an offense that looks for tight ends more than most, he’s going to have his chances.
To start the 2026 season, expect Hasz to be the primary, every-snap tight end for the Rebels.
Brady Prieskorn
This is a name that’s all too familiar to Rebel fans. Brady Prieskorn, the younger brother of former Ole Miss tight end Caden Prieskorn, is entering his first season in Oxford after transferring from Michigan. Despite being a Wolverine for two years, he only played in three games. After not playing at all as a true freshman in 2024, he appeared in three games last season without recording a stat. Part of that is due to injury. Part of that is because he was playing behind arguably the deepest tight end group in the country.
Now, with a change of scenery and a chance to reset, we’ll see how that helps his college career. Despite the lack of production, the potential is certainly there. A four-star recruit out of high school, he’s listed at 6′-6″, 245 pounds. This makes him a huge target in the passing game, as well as big enough to block at the line of scrimmage.
Based on his name alone, there will be fans who want him to see the field immediately. Due to the experience of the guys ahead of him, that isn’t likely. However, chances are that he will get a chance at some point. If he can make the most of those opportunities, he’s a name that you could see more of later in the year as the season progresses.
Michael Smith
One other name to keep an eye on is Michael Smith. Similar to Prieskorn, Smith enters his first year at Ole Miss after spending two seasons at South Carolina. As a freshman, he saw snaps in 12 games, bringing in 10 receptions for 106 yards. Then, as a sophomore, he only appeared in four games, catching only two passes.
Now, he also looks for a reset in Oxford. And listed at 6′-6, 250 pounds, he’s extremely similar in size to Prieskorn. This would give quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (assuming he’s the starter) another big target at the tight end position, especially on short to intermediate routes. In a crowded position room, it may be hard for him to carve out a clear role. But if he can make the most of what are likely to be limited opportunities early on, he’s also a guy who could become more notable as the season progresses.
Ole Miss Tight Ends: Plenty of Potential, But Lacking Experience
Apart from Hasz, the Ole Miss tight end group lacks a lot of Division I playing time. Because of experience alone, he’s likely going to be the starter for the Rebels. But the guys behind him do have plenty of potential, whether it be more athletic options like Odom, or traditional options like Smith and Prieskorn.
So even with the inexperience, there’s a lot to look forward to if you’re an Ole Miss fan. If the potential can eventually overpower the inexperience, there’s a chance the Rebels could quietly have one of the best tight end groups in the country.
Main Image: Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
