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Ole Miss wide receiver Cayden Lee has entered the transfer portal. He could be searching for a new home with uncertainty building in Oxford.
The Rebels‘ quarterback situation is cloudy. Lee is not willing to put his future in the hands of an unproven passer.
The wideout has become a fan favorite with the program over the last three seasons. He’s developed into one of the most reliable targets in college football.
Lee’s totaled 106 receptions for 1,623 yards and seven scores across his career. It was expected that he’d return to Ole Miss for his senior season before a likely NFL opportunity. Now, that may not be the case.
Cayden Lee is in the transfer portal.
The receiver posted a cryptic message on his decision citing “circumstances beyond (his) control.” Most believe he was hinting at Ole Miss’s quarterback issues.
Last year’s starter Trinidad Chambliss was denied an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA. He continues to fight for a return to Oxford in 2026. His backup, Austin Simmons, transferred to Missouri.
The current QB room is headlined by incoming transfers Walker Howard and Deuce Knight. Combined, the duo boasts just 35 completions on 76 attempts.
Lee will be on NFL radars should his production continue as a senior. For that reason, he’ll weigh his options to pair up with a more seasoned signal caller.
Lane Kiffin has made contact.
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— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) January 17, 2026
The coach responded to Cayden Lee’s transfer announcement on social media. LSU is expected to be a player in his upcoming recruitment.
The receiver thrived in Kiffin’s offense each of the last two seasons. That past relationship could play a role in his decision. A current one, too, could create a roadblock for the Tigers.
Lee’s girlfriend, Anna Kate Morning, also responded to the pass catcher’s transfer announcement. She would prefer he attend Florida State.
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Morning is a nursing student at FSU according to her social media bios. She wants her boyfriend in Tallahassee.
Both Morning and Kiffin are jockeying for position with their online recruitments of Lee. With that being said, neither may get their wish.
Georgia has become a trendy team given his Peach State ties. Lee played high school football at Kennesaw, about an hour and a half away from the Bulldogs’ campus.
Missouri, too, is a threat given the relationship with his former teammate, Simmons. And if Chambliss is awarded another season of eligibility by the NCAA, a return to Ole Miss is on the table for Lee.
Lee is searching for clarity. He will have people pulling him in different directions. It will be interesting to see who wins out in his recruitment.