Ole Miss Removes Transfer Linebacker Tony Mitchell
The former Mississippi State and Alabama defender is no longer on the Rebels' roster after a brief stint in Oxford.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
Ole Miss removed transfer linebacker Tony Mitchell from its roster in late September. Mitchell, who committed to the Rebels in January after one season at Mississippi State, is no longer part of the program.
Why it matters
The removal ends a short transfer stay for a player who had moved from safety to linebacker during spring practice. It also leaves Mitchell's next move open as he retains collegiate eligibility.
Mitchell recorded 28 total tackles, 19 solo tackles and four tackles for loss in 11 games at Mississippi State in 2025. He appeared in seven games as a true freshman at Alabama before transferring.
The players
Tony Mitchell
Tony Mitchell is a linebacker who previously played at Alabama, East Mississippi and Mississippi State before joining Ole Miss.
Ole Miss
The University of Mississippi Rebels are the NCAA Division I football program that removed Mitchell from its roster.
The details
Mitchell, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound linebacker, signed with Alabama as a top-150 prospect in the 2023 cycle and later played as a JUCO at East Mississippi in 2024. He transferred to Ole Miss after the 2025 regular season and did not log a snap in the Rebels' games against Louisville and Charlotte before his removal.
Timeline
2023: Mitchell signs with Alabama as a top-150 prospect.
2024: Mitchell plays at East Mississippi as a JUCO.
2025 regular season: Mitchell plays 11 games at Mississippi State.
January 2026: Mitchell commits to Ole Miss.
Late September 2026: Ole Miss removes Mitchell from the roster.
Roadmap
Mitchell's path from Alabama to East Mississippi, Mississippi State and Ole Miss in roughly three years reflects the rapid movement of players through the NCAA transfer portal. His short tenure at Oxford shows how quickly roster decisions can change for transfers navigating multiple programs.
Mitchell's removal changes the Ole Miss linebacker depth chart, with no replacement or roster adjustment announced in the extraction. Fantasy and recruiting observers tracking transfer activity should note that Mitchell remains eligible and is likely to re-enter the portal.
The takeaway
Roster changes among transfers can happen quickly, and players with remaining eligibility often reappear in the portal. Tracking a player's full transfer history offers a clearer view of his next possible destination.
Further reading
Find more on the team in Oxford Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
