The Ole Miss Rebels have grown accustomed to having some of the best offenses in college football. A large part of that was the coaching duo of Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. Now, despite both heading to LSU for 2026, the Rebels’ offense shouldn’t slow down much. John David Baker is the new offensive coordinator, and the offensive system won’t change much with him in control. However, a good offense oftentimes needs quality running backs to help solid quarterback play. For Ole Miss, they’re accustomed to having this type of running back. And this year, similar to last season, it will come from Kewan Lacy.
Lacy is just the latest in a growing run of quality running backs for the Rebels. In 2020 and 2021, it was the duo of Snoop Conner and Jerrion Ealy. Conner was the bigger, more physical back. Ealy was the track star. Then, for 2022 and 2023, they struck gold with the play of Quinshon Judkins. Despite eventually transferring to Ohio State, Judkins put up over 2,700 yards and 31 touchdowns on the ground in his two seasons in Oxford. In 2024, things took a step back at the position, as a combination of injuries and coaching malpractice created problems for their running backs.
But last season, they found another gem in Lacy. After transferring from Missouri following just one season, Lacy rushed for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first year as a Rebel. He’ll look to repeat that in 2026. However, his 3o6 carries in 2025 were an eye-popping number, so he’ll need a bit of help from the backups to give him breaks at times this year.
That being said, who could we see take some of the load off of Lacy’s shoulders on the ground in 2026?
Lacy’s Help for the 2026 Season
Shekai Mills-Knight
One name to keep an eye on is Shekai Mills-Knight. Despite being on the team last year as a true freshman, Mills-Knight saw only eight carries, spread out over two games. Now, as a sophomore, there’s going to be a chance for him to become the primary backup to Lacy.
The thing to keep in mind regarding Mills-Knight is his size. Listed at 6’2 and 225 pounds, he arguably has a bigger-than-usual frame for the position. As a reference, Lacy himself is only 5’11, weighing roughly 210 pounds. But despite his size, which gives him the ability to be a bigger, bruising back, he also has quality speed if he’s given space in the open field. While in high school, he also made a name for himself as a track star at Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN.
With the number of backs Ole Miss had last year, there wasn’t much surprise that Mills-Knight didn’t see the field much. This fall, that should change. And with his blend of solid size and speed, he’s going to have the chance to put himself squarely in the mix to be Lacy’s primary backup.
Makhi Frazier
Another guy who could see snaps as a backup is Makhi Frazier. After transferring from Michigan State, Frazier is set to begin his first year as a Rebel. As a Spartan in 2025, he carried the ball 116 times for 520 yards and two touchdowns.
For Frazier, he should become more of a short-yardage back, especially with how the running back group is constructed. At 5’10, 215 pounds, he’s not a particularly tall guy, but does have quality size for the position. He also doesn’t possess quite the same speed that Lacy and Mills-Knight have. Because of this, and his lower body strength, he can become a guy the Rebels look to to pick up two or three yards when needed. This would also give Lacy more of a break from the bruising style of hits that can take place on those short-yardage plays.
While he won’t be an every-down kind of back, especially with Lacy available, Frazier will certainly have the chance to carve out a role with the Rebels in 2026.
JT Lindsey
Similar to Mills-Knight, JT Lindsey is a talented guy who doesn’t have a lot of experience. Last year as a freshman at LSU, Lindsey didn’t record any stats. Following the season, he decided to enter the transfer portal, ending up in Oxford. Now, he joins another quality running back group. For Lindsey, however, he’s going to have a different role.
Unlike the other guys mentioned, Lindsey is a bit undersized, weighing only 190 pounds. Because of this, if he sees the field, don’t expect to see him running over defenders. He does possess elite speed, though. If he gets the ball in the open field, you won’t see him caught from behind very often. This gives him the ability to be used in a slightly different way. Where the other guys are more traditional tailbacks, Lindsey is more of a general playmaker.
While he won’t see a ton of snaps in 2026, the snaps he does play could see him lined up more as a slot receiver than as a running back. He could also potentially be used as a kick returner. This could give him the chance to see a bit more playing time. It would also allow him a better chance to make plays in open space. And given his speed and elusiveness, Lindsey in the open field could be a problem for defenses.
Plenty of Options, Limited Snaps
As can be seen, the issue won’t be how much help Lacy has this season. There’s going to be plenty of options that allow him the chance to take a breather when needed. The other positive is that there are guys who provide different roles when they’re on the field. This could potentially keep defenses guessing just a bit.
However, knowing that Lacy is going to get the majority of the carries, there are going to be limited snaps to go around for everyone else. From an individual standpoint, that’s going to hurt each player’s individual stats. But from a team and health standpoint, it’s going to allow everyone the chance to be playing closer to 100% than they typically would.
Main Image: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
