Ole Miss · SECOle Miss Must Settle Right Tackle Before Chambliss and Lacy Take the Field
The Rebels return major offensive talent, but two NFL departures have left one starting tackle spot unsettled. Carius Curne and Tommy Kinsler IV are competing for the job, with the decision carrying direct consequences for Ole Miss’ protection against SEC edge rushers.
AUG 21, 2026
The season in which Ole Miss must replace two departed offensive linemen.
Transfer tackles competing for the starting right tackle job.
NFL-bound offensive linemen who left holes on the Rebels’ line.
01 · The NewsWhat Happened
Ole Miss enters the 2026 season with Carius Curne and Tommy Kinsler IV competing for the starting right tackle job, according to the report. Both players are transfers. Curne previously played at LSU, while Kinsler came from Miami. The Rebels must replace Diego Pounds and Jayden Williams, who both moved on to the NFL. Center Brycen Sanders is among the returning starters and is expected to be a captain. The right tackle decision comes before Ole Miss opens the season against Louisville. The position is still unsettled in fall camp. No winner has been announced.
02 · The StakesWhy This One Matters
The question matters because Ole Miss is built around quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. The source identifies both as Heisman candidates, which raises the cost of a protection failure. Tackles have to keep edge rushers away from the quarterback and help preserve the pocket. That job gets harder in the SEC, where pressure off the edge can wreck an offense before its skill talent gets involved. Ole Miss used the transfer portal to address the losses of Pounds and Williams. That gives the Rebels options. It doesn't give them a confirmed answer yet.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The headline question is right tackle. The larger issue is certainty across the line. Ole Miss lost two players who went on to the NFL, then turned to two transfers for one of the most exposed jobs in the offense. Sanders gives the group a returning center and a possible captain. The tackle spot still has to settle. That matters because Chambliss and Lacy are the players Ole Miss expects to carry the offense. If the right side holds, the skill talent gets room to work. If it doesn't, the roster's biggest strength gets forced to play around the line's biggest question.
“Chambliss and Lacy can be Heisman-level pieces, but neither gets to skip the snap before the snap.”
The Wire Desk04 · The PersonnelWhat the Decision Tells Us
The right tackle battle tells us how much confidence Ole Miss has in its transfer additions. Curne and Kinsler are both being asked to replace players who reached the NFL. That isn't a small handoff. It puts the decision at the edge of the offense, where a missed block can end a drive immediately. Curne brings experience from LSU, while Kinsler arrives from Miami after playing in the College Football Playoff national championship game. The source doesn't identify a front-runner, and no starting decision has been announced. The projection is straightforward: the winner will be asked to protect Chambliss against SEC edge rushers while helping keep Lacy's offense on schedule. The loser becomes the first obvious option if the starter struggles or misses time. The Louisville opener is the first public test of that choice.
05 · The ThesisThe Pate State Read
Ole Miss has enough offensive talent to make this position feel bigger than one camp battle. That’s exactly why it matters. Chambliss and Lacy can be Heisman-level pieces, but neither gets to skip the snap before the snap. The right tackle has to hold the edge, keep the quarterback in the pocket and stop the protection problem from becoming a quarterback problem. Now, if any program can survive a transfer competition, it's one that identified the loss and went into the portal for help. Curne and Kinsler give Ole Miss two real options. The concern is that both are being asked to replace NFL-bound players, and the source offers no evidence that the job is settled. The verdict is moderate to severe right now. Ole Miss' ceiling depends on whether one tackle claims the spot before Louisville, not on whether the Rebels have enough stars outside.
06 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Who starts at right tackle against Louisville?
A named starter would settle Ole Miss' last major question on the offensive line. If no decision arrives before the opener, the Rebels may be carrying the competition into live action.
Does Ole Miss keep the job with one transfer?
A clear winner would give Chambliss and Lacy a defined protection unit. Continued rotation would signal that the staff still hasn't found enough certainty at the position.
How does the right side handle SEC pressure?
The first major edge-rush test will show whether the transfer solution works in the pocket. Repeated pressure from that side would put more weight on Chambliss and the rest of the line.
Does Brycen Sanders lead the group?
Sanders is expected to be a captain and returns at center. His leadership could matter as Ole Miss fits new tackles into a line replacing two NFL-bound players.