Ole Miss is likely to be without star running back Kewan Lacy for the remainder of the 2026-27 season.
Lacy, who has battled a shoulder injury since the Fiesta Bowl loss to Miami in January, is not expected to suit up for the Rebels for the rest of this year, first reported by On3.
The junior was sidelined in the red and blue’s week one win against Louisville, but suited up against Charlotte the next week. He was injured once again versus LSU and former head coach Lane Kiffin and missed the subsequent matchup against Florida.
Lacy used the Rebels’ bye week to his advantage and returned to action in a blowout win at Vanderbilt on Oct. 10. The following Saturday, he had his best rushing performance of the year. In a revenge game against his former school, Missouri, Lacy rushed for 122 yards on 16 carries. His momentum was short-lived, however, as he was hurt once again in an Oct. 24 loss at Texas.
The Ole Miss ball carrier did not see the field in the team’s two most recent games.
Lacy entered the season with promise and joined teammate Trinidad Chambliss, the Rebels’ dual-threat quarterback, in a university-led Heisman campaign. In the offseason, the two were featured in entertainment hotbeds like New York City’s Times Square and the Las Vegas Sphere. The two were also marketed as big retention wins for Pete Golding after the defensive coordinator was promoted to head coach when Kiffin bolted for Baton Rouge.
In Lacy’s absence, Ole Miss has heavily relied on Michigan State transfer Makhi Frazier and sophomore Shekai Mills-Knight to man the ship in the ground attack. While neither running back eclipsed 100 rushing yards in the two most recent games, the glaring difference in their contributions and Lacy’s is pass blocking.
Chambliss, up until a Nov. 7 blowout loss to Georgia, had enjoyed a clean pocket all year. John Garrison’s offensive line is to be credited for that, but Lacy’s ability to absorb defenders and keep his quarterback out of harm’s way was special. In the Rebels’ first eight games of the year, Chambliss was sacked six times. The Bulldogs took advantage of Lacy being out and engaged eight, with enough success to yield four sacks.
At this time, Lacy has not announced future plans — like whether or not he will declare for the NFL Draft, hit the transfer portal, or return to Ole Miss.
As for Ole Miss (6-3, 4-3 SEC), the No. 19 Rebels will continue the regular season at Oklahoma on Saturday. The game will kick off at 3:15 p.m. CT and will air on the SEC Network, along with participating SuperTalk Mississippi stations.
