RB Dear newest to pull dedication from Ole Miss

• Eli Lederman, ESPNJun 28, 2024, 08:20 PM ET

Four-star running back Akylin Dear pulled his dedication from Ole Miss on Friday night, ending up being the 4th high-profile possibility from the Rebels’ 2025 class to do so this week.The 29th-ranked hire in the ESPN 300 validated the news with a set of emojis in a post on X.Dear, the second-ranked running back in the nation out of Quitman, Mississippi, was the leading possibility remaining in Lane Kiffin’s 2025 class and had been committed to the Rebels considering that March 30. His exit comes 4 days after three other Ole Miss commits, headlined by four-star wide receiver Jerome Myles, pulled their pledges from the program’s upcoming class.Dear is the second-ranked prospect in the state of Mississippi in the 2025 class and chose Ole Miss over offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas and Mississippi State previously this year. As a junior last fall at Quitman High School, Dear totaled 2,016 rushing backyards and 27 touchdowns on the ground. The 6-foot, 205-pound rusher took check outs to Alabama and Florida in the spring following his dedication to the Rebels.His departure is the current blow to Kiffin’s 2025 class. Myles, No. 26 in the ESPN 300

and the fifth-ranked wide receiver in his class, represented the most significant loss when three potential customers decommitted from Ole Miss on Monday afternoon. His exit came soon after outside linebacker Corey Amos (No. 38 OLB)and pass receiver Dillon Alfred (No. 54 WR )pulled their pledges.With Dear’s recruitment back open, Ole Miss holds just a set of ESPN 300 commitments in 2025 and concerns swirl around Kiffin’s

newest class. As of Friday night, outside linebacker Jarcoby Hopson (No. 177 in the ESPN 300)and defensive tackle Andrew Maddox (No. 245 )stood as the top potential customers still headed to Oxford.