Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss pulled off a significant late recruiting win on Wednesday, flipping former Alabama commit Caleb Cunningham just days after the four-star wide receiver visited Oxford during the Rebels’ Week 11 victory over Georgia.
Cunningham, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound receiver from Ackerman, Mississippi, is ranked No. 21 overall in ESPN’s 2025 recruiting class and is the No. 2 wide receiver in the cycle. Initially a cornerstone of Alabama’s top-ranked class under Kalen DeBoer, Cunningham committed to the Crimson Tide in July. His decommitment deals a late setback to Alabama’s recruiting efforts.
Now the highest-rated player in Ole Miss’ 2025 class, Cunningham headlines a group that features five recruits from ESPN’s top 300 rankings, including four in-state prospects. Joining Cunningham are cornerback Cortez Thomas (No. 125), linebacker Jarcoby Hopson (No. 190), and defensive tackle Andrew Maddox (No. 257). Ladarian Clardy, a four-star safety from Pensacola, Florida, rounds out the ESPN 300 commits in a Rebels class currently ranked No. 29 nationally with 19 total commitments.
Cunningham, who was the third-highest-ranked recruit in Alabama’s class before flipping, is a standout three-sport athlete from Choctaw County High School. He broke several school records as a junior, recording 48 receptions for 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns.
After initially choosing Alabama on July 13 over Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee, Cunningham remained committed into his senior season. However, Ole Miss persisted in its recruitment efforts, hosting him for multiple visits throughout the fall. His most recent visit was Saturday, when he watched the Rebels defeat Georgia 28-10 alongside Auburn quarterback commit Deuce Knight. Days later, Cunningham is now the prized recruit in Kiffin’s 2025 class.
This recruiting victory coincides with Ole Miss’ rise to No. 11 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The Rebels (8-2) have a bye in Week 12 before traveling to face Florida on Nov. 23.
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