Ole Miss defensive back MJ Daniels withdraws from transfer portal, per sources

After announcing on Twitter he would be entering his name in the NCAA transfer portal Saturday evening, freshman defensive back MJ Daniels is reportedly staying at Ole Miss now, one source told the OMSpirit on Sunday.

The former four-star safety from Lucedale, Miss. signed with Lane Kiffin and the Rebels in 2021 over notable offers from Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State and Texas A&M.

Daniels played in just two games and only recorded two total tackles in 2021 but the 6-foot-1, 210-pound defensive back is one who is going to be counted on in 2022 and beyond. Kiffin and Ole Miss let Daniels’ primary recruiter go on Friday, relieving Terrell Buckley of his duties as cornerbacks coach. 
Buckley, a Mississippian, recruited Daniels for two years and was a big reason why the Rebels were able to land the nation’s 14th-ranked safety. Ole Miss has yet to name a replacement for Buckley.

The Rebels lose secondary veteran Keidron Smith to the NCAA transfer portal and depth pieces like Tylan Knight, Jalen Jordan and Jakorey Hawkins but will return starters Deantre Prince and Miles Battle at the cornerback position. Joining Daniels and the aforementioned starters are Daniels classmates from the 2021 signing class, giving Kiffin, co-defensive coordinators Chris Kiffin and Chris Partridge and Ole Miss a deep nucleus to work with in the coming years.