Former Ole Miss defensive back announces transfer destination
Former Ole Miss defensive back Tylan Knight will transfer to Southern Miss, he announced Monday. On3’s Matt Zenitz first reported that Knight had entered the portal Wednesday.
The senior recorded 37 tackles in his fourth year with the program this past season. Knight spent four seasons with the Rebels, but his 2021 performance was the best for the defensive back. He ends his Rebels career after accumulating 78 tackles, three pass defenses and three forced fumbles.
A former three-star prospect, Knight was recruited as a running back. He ranked as the No. 192 running back in the class of 2018 according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was also offered by Louisiana and South Alabama.
Knight made the full-time switch to defensive back five games into his junior season in 2020. He ends his Ole Miss career with 31 carries for 162 yards rushing.
A native of Pearl, Mississippi, he joins Rebels offensive tackle Bryce Ramsey in transferring to Southern Miss. Ramsey made his announcement on Jan. 9.
Ole Miss went 10-3 in coach Lane Kiffin’s second year at the helm. They earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl, but lost to the Baylor Bears after quarterback Matt Corral went down with an ankle injury. The Rebels had one of the more explosive offensives in the country this season, finishing second in the SEC with 492.4 yards per game.
The former Ole Miss defensive back is set to transfer to a team that finished the 2021 season with a 3-9 record in coach Will Hall’s inaugural season. Prior to taking over the Golden Eagles, Hall was previously the offensive coordinator for Tulane.
Knight’s first opportunity to make an impact for the Golden Eagles will come on Sept. 3 when Southern Miss opens the 2022 season against the Liberty Flames. Ole Miss will start off 2022 with a game against the Troy Trojans.