Ole Miss flips leading WR possibility from Alabama

• Eli Lederman, ESPN Staff WriterNov 13, 2024, 02:00 PM ET

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  Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He signed up with ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.Lane Kiffin

and Ole Miss completed a crucial late-cycle flip Wednesday afternoon, protecting a commitment from former Alabama promise Caleb Cunningham four days after the four-star wide receiver went to the program during the Rebels’ Week 11 win over Georgia.Cunningham, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound receiver from Ackerman, Mississippi, is ESPN’s No. 21 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle. The No. 2 wide receiver possibility in 2025, Cunningham had actually been a cornerstone of Kalen DeBoer’s inaugural recruiting class with the Crimson Tide given that his preliminary dedication to Alabama in July, and his departure marks a late blow to an Alabama class that sits at No. 1 in ESPN’s team rankings for the cycle.Upon his flip to the home-state Rebels, Cunningham is now the highest-rated prospect in an Ole Miss class that consists of five pledges from inside the 2025 ESPN 300. Four of those commitments come from within the state, as Cunningham joins cornerback Cortez Thomas( No. 125 in the ESPN 300 ), outdoors linebacker Jarcoby Hopson( No. 190)and defensive take on Andrew Maddox (No. 257) amongst the leading Mississippians set to join Kiffin’s program in 2025. Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Ladarian Clardy, a four-star security from Pensacola, Florida,

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the collection of ESPN 300 skills in a Rebels class that includes 19 total dedications, signing in at No. 29 in ESPN’s latest class rankings.Cunningham was the third-ranked member of Alabama’s 2025 class previous to his flip. A three-sport athlete at Choctaw County High School, he set a series of school records in his junior season last fall with 48 catches from 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns.Cunningham at first committed to the Crimson Tide on July 13, picking Alabama over Ole Miss and Mississippi State, along with finalists Florida, Auburn and Tennessee. His promise to the Crimson Tide remained firm into Cunningham’s senior season this fall, however Ole Miss never ever stopped recruiting Cunningham and he returned to Oxford numerous times throughout a series of check outs to SEC campuses this fall. His newest trip to Ole Miss came Saturday, when Cuningham enjoyed the Rebels leading Georgia 28-10 together with Auburn quarterback dedicate Deuce Knight. A number of days later on, Cunningham now stands as the crown jewel in Kiffin’s 2025 class.Ole Miss rose 5 areas to No. 11 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night. The Rebels (8-2)are off in Week 12 before taking a trip to face Florida on Nov. 23.