We’re nearing the start of the college football season. That’s good news for everybody. But it also means that we continue to break down positions that may sometimes sneak under the radar. We all hear about the quarterback position, and we hear about running backs, but what about the spots that don’t get addressed as much? For instance, what will the Ole Miss linebackers look like in 2026?
While they had a decent unit in 2025, the linebacker position in Oxford is going to see a ton of new faces this year. So who’s returning, who’s starting their Ole Miss career in 2026, and what kind of talent can we see at the position for the Rebels?
Key Ole Miss Linebackers in 2026
Suntarine Perkins
Starting this list has to be Suntarine Perkins. He’s the one key returning piece of the linebacker unit for the Rebels. Entering his senior year, he’s been a key part of the Ole Miss defense for three years, and is now needed to become the vocal leader and anchor of this defense. The former top-rated player in the state of Mississippi from the 2023 class, Perkins has combined for 179 tackles, including 18.5 sacks in his time as a Rebel. He’s also brought in two interceptions.
The key for Perkins is his ability to be a hybrid defender. While he will primarily play linebacker, he does have enough speed and power to drop down to the edge spot every now and then. If there is one concern, it’s his occasional inconsistency in finishing tackles. In 2025, he had 15 missed tackles. If he can sure up that aspect of his game, he has the clear potential to be a relatively high pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Keaton Thomas
Baylor transfer Keaton Thomas is the first transfer linebacker to keep an eye on if you’re an Ole Miss fan. In simple terms, he’s a sure tackler. In two years at Baylor, he combined for 219 tackles, with 14 of those coming for a loss. He also added two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
Now, he enters into a defensive system under Pete Golding that loves aggressive linebackers and gives them plenty of chances to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. At 6’1 and 240 pounds, he has good size for the position. If there is one question, it would be his speed. However, he makes up for those questions with his instincts, and his knowledge of how to play the position and where to be on the field.
Luke Ferrelli
This is a name we’ve probably all heard, and not necessarily for the right reasons. After two years at Cal, only seeing the field for one of those seasons, Luke Ferrelli entered the transfer portal and initially committed to Clemson. Then, near the end of the portal window, he changed his mind, landing in Oxford. That led to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney accusing Ole Miss of tampering, which has led to an open NCAA investigation. Needless to say, it’s been a bit of a messy transfer.
However, what sometimes gets lost in the drama is Ferrelli’s talent level. In 2025, he won the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year award while at Cal. For the season, he combined for 91 tackles, including five tackles for loss. Now, he enters his second season of seeing the field, this time in a Golding-led defense, surrounded by experienced linebackers like Perkins and Thomas.
His relative youthfulness may be one thing to keep an eye on, but he’s still going to have the chance to make some key plays for the Rebels this season. He made waves during spring camp, his first in Oxford, and now he’s going to have the chance to carry that momentum over to the regular season.
Added Depth for the Ole Miss Linebackers
While those three names are likely going to be the names we hear a lot of this season, Ole Miss does have much-needed depth at the position, as well. Tah’j Butler is entering his first year as a Rebel, after spending the last two with Georgia Tech. While he doesn’t come in with necessarily stellar numbers, he has played in every game for the Yellow Jackets over the past two seasons and has 7.5 tackles for loss during that period.
Tony Mitchell is another transfer who could see some playing time, as well. The former Mississippi State Bulldog is listed as a linebacker, despite having played safety last year. Part of this is due to his size, listed at 240 pounds. With his size, he fits more into a linebacker role, but he does have the added experience of being a defensive back, which could become useful if he needs to drop back into coverage. Last year as a Bulldog, he combined for 25 tackles, including four for loss. Similar to Butler, he likely won’t be a starter, but you can expect for him to see some meaningful snaps off the bench.
Will the Ole Miss Linebackers Have Success in 2026?
The talent is clearly there, especially from the top three guys on this list. But with four of the five prominent names at the linebacker position being new, there are going to be questions about how quickly they can begin to understand the system that Golding likes to use. After all, if there is one common complaint about Golding, it is the fact that his scheme can be extremely complex at times.
We already know what to expect from Perkins. He’s been in the system for three seasons now and has excelled. But for the new faces, there are a lot of unknowns. If they can adapt to the new scheme and gel well together, the unit should be good enough to improve the Rebels’ defense from last season. But if they struggle to learn the system, with the linebacker position being one of the more vocally important spots on the field, the struggles could begin to arise not just in the middle of the defense, but could be felt throughout the entire Ole Miss defense in 2026.
