Could former five-star wide receiver be the breakout star for Ole Miss in 2025? According to 247Sports’ Director of Scouting, Andrew Ivins, he very well could be. Ivins, who oversees the network’s high school football prospect rankings, sees Cunningham as a player with immediate impact potential.
Despite being downgraded from a five-star to a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ final 2025 rankings, Cunningham remains highly regarded. He is ranked as the No. 7 wide receiver in the country, the top player in Mississippi’s 2025 class, and the No. 48 overall prospect in the nation. However, he opted out of participating in any postseason all-star games.
“Wide receiver is a huge question mark for Ole Miss,” Ivins noted. “Four of their top five receivers are gone. Caleb Cunningham is a major addition for them. He’s an older prospect and an in-state guy. I think he can contribute right away. I call him a YAC machine—he’s a monster after the catch. He’s also a talented basketball player, which is something we value in wide receiver prospects. Basketball players have to go through defenders, move around them, or prevent them from getting past—those ball skills translate well.”
Ivins mentioned that Cunningham was strongly considered for a fifth star but ultimately didn’t make the cut due to limited live exposure. “He could be a factor in year one. He might be the SEC wide receiver that truly breaks out.”
Cunningham, who flipped from Alabama to Ole Miss, consistently emphasized his desire to play for a program known for developing NFL-caliber wide receivers. With former Rebels like A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf thriving in the pros, Ole Miss fit the bill.
“That played a huge role in my decision,” Cunningham said. “I wanted to go to a school that puts receivers in the league, and Ole Miss does that. Tre Harris is about to go pro. Jordan Watkins, Juice Wells—they’re sending guys to the league every year. That’s something I wanted to be a part of right here in Mississippi.”
Ivins also praised Ole Miss wide receiver signee Winston Watkins, a four-star prospect ranked as the No. 31 pass catcher nationally.
“He had an outstanding senior season—94 catches, over 1,000 yards, multiple touchdowns. They even used him as a Wildcat quarterback and on defense as a cornerback. We saw him at the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio, and he exceeded expectations. He’s under 5-foot-9 but has impressive physical traits—big arms, big hands.”
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