Eli Lederman, ESPN Writer Nov 13, 2024, 2:00pm ET
CloseEli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.
Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss completed a crucial flip-flop in the late rotation on Wednesday afternoon, securing a commitment from former Alabama pledge Caleb Cunningham four days after the four-star receiver visited 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. Cunningham, the No. 2 wide receiver in 2025, was a cornerstone of the inaugural recruiting class. Kalen DeBoer has been with the Crimson Tide since his initial commitment to Alabama in July, and his departure represents a late blow to an Alabama class that sits at No. 2. No. 1 in ESPN’s team rankings for the tournament.
In making the move to his home team, the Rebels, Cunningham is now the highest-rated prospect in Ole Miss’ class that includes five commits from within the 2025 ESPN 300. Four of those commitments come from within the state, where Cunningham joins cornerback Cortez Thomas. (No. 125 in the ESPN 300), outside linebacker Jarkoby Hobson (No. 190) and defensive tackle Andrew Maddox (No. 257) are among the top Mississippians scheduled to join Kiffin’s program in 2025.
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Ladarian Clardy, a four-star safety from Pensacola, Fla., rounds out the ESPN 300 talent pool for the Rebels that includes 19 overall commitments, coming in at No. 29 in ESPN’s latest class rankings.
Cunningham was the third member of Alabama’s 2025 class before being flipped. A three-sport athlete at Choctaw County High School, he set a series of school records his junior season last fall with 48 catches for 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Cunningham initially committed to the Crimson Tide on July 13, choosing Alabama over Ole Miss and Mississippi State, as well as finalists Florida, Auburn and Tennessee. His commitment to the Crimson Tide remained steadfast in Cunningham’s senior season this fall, but Ole Miss never stopped recruiting Cunningham and he returned to Oxford several times over a series of visits to SEC campuses this fall. His final trip to Ole Miss came on Saturday, when Cunningham watched the Rebels lead Georgia 28-10 alongside Auburn quarterback commit Deuce Knight. Several days later, Cunningham is now the crown jewel of Kiffin’s 2025 class.
Ole Miss rose five spots to No. 11 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night. The Rebels (8-2) will have a week off in Week 12 before traveling to face Florida on Nov. 23.
