The 2025 NFL Draft is now in the books, but that doesn’t mean the phones have stopped ringing for Mississippi players. Over the next few days, some of those who weren’t selected during the seven-round draft are still going to get a chance to make an active roster.
Keep up with who all from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, and Jackson State sign undrafted free agent deals or receive an invite to training camp.
Ole Miss
After Lane Kiffin and the Rebels saw a program-record eight players selected during the NFL Draft, nearly a dozen additional Rebels are getting a shot in the league.
- Tight end Caden Prieskorn signed a UDFA deal with the Detroit Lions. Prieskorn, who many analysts thought would be drafted but fell off big boards due to age and injury history, totaled 850 yards and seven touchdowns during his two seasons at Ole Miss after transferring from nearby Memphis.
- Defensive end Jared Ivey signed a UDFA deal with the Seattle Seahawks. Ivey, another player who analysts thought might get drafted, had 125 tackles, 16 sacks, and three forced fumbles across three seasons in Oxford.
- Running back Ulysses Bentley IV signed a UDFA deal with the Indianapolis Colts. Although Bentley was arguably underplayed in 2024, he’s shown glimpses as an explosive, change-of-pace back with over 2,500 rushing yards at SMU and Ole Miss.
- Wide receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells, Jr., signed a UDFA deal with the New York Giants. Wells, a transfer from South Carolina, had 28 catches for 553 yards with six touchdowns in his only year in Oxford.
- Defensive back John Saunders signed a UDFA deal with the Miami Dolphins. Saunders had a team-high three interceptions and compiled 46 tackles in 2024. He also had a good showing at Pro Day.
- Defensive back Trey Washington signed a UDFA deal with the Indianapolis Colts. Washington was third on the team last season with 64 tackles, finishing his career with 200.
- Defensive back Brandon Turnage signed a UDFA deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Turnage had 24 tackles and one interception in his lone season in Oxford after stops at Alabama and Tennessee.
- Offensive lineman Nate Kalepo signed a UDFA deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kalepo, a left guard in college, started all 12 games for Ole Miss last season after transferring from Washington.
- Offensive lineman Gerquan Scott signed a UDFA deal with the Buffalo Bills. Scott, who mostly played right guard at Ole Miss after transferring from Southern Miss, started four games for the Rebels in 2024.
- Kicker Caden Davis signed a UDFA deal with the New York Jets. After transferring from Texas A&M, Davis knocked 42 of 52 attempts through the uprights across two seasons at Ole Miss. Four of his field goals were 50 yards or longer.
Rebels who did hear their names called as part of the NFL draft were defensive lineman Walter Nolen (Rd. 1, Arizona Cardinals), quarterback Jaxson Dart (Rd. 1, New York Giants), wide receiver Tre Harris (Rd. 2, Los Angeles Chargers), defensive back Trey Amos (Rd. 2, Washington Commanders), defensive end Princely Umanmielen (Rd. 3, Carolina Panthers), wide receiver Jordan Watkins (Rd. 4, San Francisco 49ers), linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul, Jr. (Rd. 5, Los Angeles Rams), and defensive lineman JJ Pegues (Rd. 6, Las Vegas Raiders).
Mississippi State
For the first time since 2009, Mississippi State did not have a player selected in the NFL Draft. But that didn’t mean there were no players from last year’s roster worth teams taking a chance on.
- Wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi signed a UDFA deal with the Buffalo Bills. After transferring to Starkville from UTEP, the All-Conference USA player had 25 receptions for 391 yards in his lone season at Mississippi State.
- Linebacker Stone Blanton signed a UDFA deal with the San Francisco 49ers. Blanton was Mississippi State’s second-leading tackler a season ago with 124 after transferring from South Carolina.
- Center Ethan Minor was invited to minicamp by the Los Angeles Chargers. He started all 12 games for Mississippi State last season after stops at Arkansas State and North Texas.
- Former Mississippi State basketball player Jimmy Bell, Jr., who came out for one spring with the Bulldog football team, signed a UDFA deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. The 6-foot-10, 280-pounder hopes to beef up and land a spot on the offensive line.
Southern Miss
For the second consecutive year, Southern Miss went without having a player selected in the NFL Draft. But like its in-state counterpart, Mississippi State, that didn’t mean there were no former Golden Eagles ready to take snaps this offseason.
- Defensive lineman Demeco Roland signed a UDFA deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The 6-foot-3, 340-pounder had 10 solo tackles and one sack from his interior position in 2024.
Jackson State
Jackson State saw some Deion Sanders-era players who left at the same time Coach Prime did get selected, like two-way player Travis Hunter (Rd. 1, Jacksonville Jaguars) and Shedeur Sanders (Rd. 5, Cleveland Browns). That being said, the Tigers did have a few players from last year’s HBCU national title-winning roster get a call after the draft.
- Defensive back Robert McDaniel signed a UDFA deal with the Washington Commanders. The JUCO product had 55 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions in 2024.
- Running back Irv Mulligan was invited to minicamp by the New York Giants. One of the best rushers in modern history at Jackson State, Mulligan had 1,239 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground in 2024.
- Defensive end Phillip Webb was invited to minicamp by the Miami Dolphins. Webb had 41 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble a season ago.
