Just over two months ago, wide receiver Harrison Wallace III was suiting up for the College Football Playoff Semifinal with Penn State, against Notre Dame. Wallace would end up missing out on a spot in the National Championship Game by four points.
Five days after his junior season ended in the Orange Bowl the standout pass catcher opted for the transfer portal. Wallace set career-highs across the board in 2024, recording 46 receptions for 720 receiving yards (15.7 YPC) to go along with four scores.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound receiver was a four-star transfer and a top 20 player at his position in the cycle, per 247Sports. The Rebels landed what they expect to be one of their next coveted transfer targets.
The attraction to the Rebels seemed like a perfect schematic match.
“Really just seeing how their receiver room has just thrived over the years and just how their offense is really like a pass-focus. Just something that I could see myself being a part of.”
“It’s always hard, especially leaving a great team like Penn State, but I just really wanted to take a chance on myself on this last year,” Wallace said. “Really just find a passing offense and (passing) being their number one focus in that sense.”
As Wallace continues to transition to Ole Miss’ playbook, some things will be different, but not everything.
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“I feel like some of the concepts are around the same. It’s some of the same terminology so it’s not like I got a lot of stuff going on in my mind,” Wallace explained following Tuesday’s practice. “It was kind of simple to pick up just from me having that past experience. I feel like my time here and everything that I’ve learned is going good so far.”
Since Lane Kiffin became Ole Miss’ head coach, the Rebels have hit the jackpot at times on explosive transfers. Wallace and De’Zhaun Stribling could be next in line during the 2025 season.
However, in order for that to happen there has to be developed chemistry. Both on and off the field. Third-year Rebels Austin Simmons and Cayden Lee have taken charge in that department for new offensive players like Wallace.
“(Simmons has) been great. Just being that leader that a team needs, especially from the quarterback position. And just mandating meetings, walkthroughs, he’s just stepped into the role. I feel like he’s doing a great job so far.”
“(Lee’s) been great. He welcomed all of us to the room. He shows us the dos and don’ts,” Wallace added. “He’s fun to be around, he’s a cool kid. He was really open. A lot of places when a lot of people transfer in, a lot of people aren’t as open, but I really feel like he welcomed us in.”
In three seasons at Penn State, Wallace has racked up 84 receptions for 1,221 receiving yards to go along with six touchdowns.
Will his game translate to the SEC level?
“I’m pretty confident,” Wallace said. “I’d say an explosive receiver that can make plays at all three levels and can also get it done in the run game.”
The Rebels will return to the Manning Center Thursday and Saturday to continue the second week of spring camp. Ole Miss has 11 practices remaining on its schedule with the training period closing April 19.
“I’d just say me being there, I know what it takes in that sense,” Wallace said of his experience in 2024. “We just got to focus on the little things because the little things can get us beat.”
