Former Arkansas offensive lineman Patrick Kutas announced his decision to transfer to Ole Miss on Friday just three months after he bashed the Rebels on a public platform. His decision reflects poorly on the program in Fayetteville while demonstrating the strength of the operation in Oxford.
It just goes to show that winning outweighs most everything else in college football and in life.
Kutas was a four-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2022 and ranked as one of the 10 best interior offensive linemen in the country. He committed to play for the Razorbacks over 23 offers from schools like Oregon, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida State, Liberty and Arizona State. Best known for his run blocking, the 6-foot-5, 313-pounder started 13 games at Arkansas in two different positions.
Although his two-season stint with the Hogs was an overwhelming success, Kutas entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining as part of a large exodus in The Natural State. Sam Pittman claimed that NIL money is not a factor in the mass departure but that only made him look even worse.
Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin and his staff had their sights set on Pittman’s roster.
The Rebels will lose most of its offensive line to graduation this offseason. They need to replace at least three of five starters as well as a lot of depth. As the Portal King, Ole Miss’ head coach started to build his line for 2025 as soon as the winter window opened earlier this week.
That starts with Kutas, who cancelled his visit to Alabama and committed to play for Kiffin while on his visit to North Mississippi. His decision is in direct contradiction to what he said about the Rebels earlier this year.
New chapter#committedtothesip pic.twitter.com/JmEqqaehaY
— Patrick Kutas (@pwk54) December 13, 2024
Kutas spoke about his feelings toward his new school during an appearance on the BossHog Podcast back in the spring. They were not complimentary.
I don’t like Ole Miss. You know how you’re raised to like a school? Well, I was raised not to like Ole Miss.
— Patrick Kutas
Arkansas went 6-6 in 2024, including at 63-31 loss at home to Ole Miss. Ole Miss went 9-3 and will expect to be in the College Football Playoff conversation for as long as Kiffin is in town.
Patrick Kutas might be a Rebels-hater by birth, but the grass is much greener in Oxford than Fayetteville. Winning is more important than petty childhood grudges. NIL money certainly helps.