Traylan Williams is a senior law studies major with a minor in criminal justice from Cleveland, Miss., who was selected as the 2026 Ole Miss Homecoming King.
Williams was officially announced as the Homecoming King on Oct. 6 — a moment he will never forget.
“Even though I was running unopposed, it just felt like … I still had doubts a little bit. It just felt … unreal,” Williams said.
Having graduated from Cleveland Central High School in 2023, Williams steered away from his interest in playing collegiate tennis to attend the University of Mississippi.
“I played tennis in high school. … I had a couple of offers … (from) community colleges,” Williams said. “But Ole Miss was one of the main (schools) that I saw as attractive and scenic.”
The university’s affordability was another motive the in-state college offered for Williams.
“I got this scholarship (that) pretty much covered … all my college,” Williams said. “It paid for a good bit of my books. It’s called Ole Miss Opportunity.”
Traylan Williams. Photo by Madison Twiddy
Williams believes he has undergone a lot of change over the last three years at Ole Miss. He credits his involvement on campus for his character development.
“Three or four years ago to now, I had come a long way. … If you talk to a friend of mine, they’ll tell you …‘He’s a more introverted person. He don’t come out of his room … but he’s still cool,’” Williams said.
Williams is involved in Ole Miss Leadership Engagement Ambassadors, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Ole Miss Club Tennis and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He also serves as vice president of community service on the National Pan-Hellenic Council executive board.
Williams noted that his involvement refined his leadership skills.
“Having people that like to hold you accountable, but also love you … in a brotherly way, doing things like community service … and just representing your letters (is important),” Williams said. “It’s been good to me … more of a personal development type of thing.”
Becoming the 2026 Homecoming King was a lofty goal Williams always desired, but he was not always confident he would achieve it.
“I always knew,” Williams said. “My senior year at Cleveland Central, they had the first-ever homecoming king, but they told me I couldn’t run. I always wanted to run for it, but I never also had the courage. I was thinking I could probably do something like it in college.”
Williams’ campaign slogan was “Tray’s the Way,” which he credited to students that lived on his floor in Stockard Hall during his time as a resident assistant. Williams has served as an RA for three years, an on-campus job that he is grateful for in part because it covered his housing expenses.
His campaign was centered around advocacy for mental health awareness.
“(Mental health is) something I’ve struggled with personally back in high school,” Williams said. “I feel like it’s an underlooked topic in a lot of ways … and I wanted to highlight that with my campaign.”
Williams will participate in Homecoming festivities, such as riding on a float during the parade and escorting 2026 Homecoming Queen Lucy Huthnance at halftime of the football game against Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 17.
He plans to organize events and initiatives to raise money and awareness for the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education or the University Counseling Center.
After college, Williams hopes to attend law school or pursue graduate studies in criminal justice.
From the quiet kid at Cleveland Central to an involved student on the Ole Miss campus, Williams hopes his journey inspires others to aim high.
“Don’t limit yourself,” Williams said. “I feel like the sky is not the limit. It’s more so the beginning of what you can do. … Just believe in yourself and trust in God.”
