Heading into the 2026 season, the Ole Miss running back room is deeper than it has been in many years. With many new faces, the running back corps will have a very different look this season.
Last year, Kewan Lacy was the big workhorse for Ole Miss, rushing for 1,567 yards on 306 carries and scoring 24 touchdowns. He finished the season ranked first overall in carries, second in rushing touchdowns and third in rushing yards in the nation.
He played 83% of snaps and continued to shine deep into the season until the semifinal, when he tweaked his right hamstring on a long touchdown run in the Fiesta Bowl against Miami.
Lacy will lead a powerful, dynamic and deep group of running backs in 2026. While Lacy understands his role will be slightly different, he still has his eyes on personal goals while maintaining a team-first mentality.
“I’d say one goal of mine, of course, is the Heisman,” Lacy said at SEC Media Days. “Then, I want 2,000 all-purpose yards. … I think just me being the best I can be is going to help my team.”
Maximizing carries and building on last season’s success will be the forefront of Lacy’s priorities. Lacy will still be the main producer, but the offense will also feature different looks from new additions, each of whom brings a unique skillset to the room.
One star addition to the Ole Miss backfield is Michigan State transfer Mahki Frazier. Frazier rushed for 520 yards and two touchdowns on 116 carries for the Spartans in 2025.
At 5-feet-10-inches, Frazier has an ideal frame for outmuscling defenders, plunging through gaps and breaking tackles. He noted in an April 27 press conference that he thinks these traits would be his best qualities he could offer to this deep, skillful running back room.
“I would say I’ll be able to bring a lot of downhill running and a physical aspect to my game,” Frazier said.
Frazier, like Lacy, also noted that there are several running backs with lots of different talents at Ole Miss, each of whom bring something unique to the table. Ultimately, this variation in strengths will make them all stronger and harder for defenses to stop.
“I think we all complement each other, because some of us are fast (and) some of us are downhill runners, so I think once all that combines, it will be … a dangerous room,” Frazier said.
Southern Utah transfer Joshua Dye is also joining the Rebel backfield this season. Last year with the Thunderbirds, Dye rushed for 1,831 yards and a Football Championship Subdivision-best 28 touchdowns on 295 carries. He averaged a whopping 152.4 rushing yards per game.
He also totaled 10 100-yard rushing performances, including two 200-yard games.
Dye committed to the Rebels in January and participated in spring drills with the team. He is known for his explosive running and ability to break away for large gains.
Additionally, Dye is used to handling a major load. In just 12 games last year, Dye had 295 rushing attempts, compared to Lacy’s 306 attempts in 15 games.
Dye’s durability and strong running will almost definitely factor into the Rebels’ success and be important down the stretch with the Rebels looking to make another deep postseason run.
Returning to the Rebel offense is sophomore Shekai Mills-Knight. He saw limited snaps last season and will most likely serve as a rotational piece once again, perhaps with more playing time this season. Mills-Knight is speedy and could be used in short-yardage situations this season.
J.T. Lindsey joined the Rebels this offseason from LSU, alongside running backs coach Frank Wilson.
Lindsey did not play for the Tigers in 2025 and entered the portal at the end of the season. He was listed as the nation’s No. 8 running back prospect by 247Sports out of high school but has yet to prove his abilities can translate to the collegiate level.
Lindsey could see rotational snaps this season but has potential to show out in big moments. While he has a small frame at 190 pounds, he has plenty of upside when it comes to speed.
Diversity of strengths will be the key for this running back room. This season will look different for each player, but according to head coach Pete Golding, the group has kept the team’s goals first.
“They are a team-first group led by (running backs) coach (Frank) Wilson, and they’ve worked extremely hard,” Golding said. “(There are) not a lot of egos in there, but they’re all a little different.”
