The time has come for yet another road trip in the month of October for the Auburn Tigers as they take on their third one of the month following a home loss to LSU.
Alex Golesh’s squad will head to Oxford, Mississippi on Saturday to take on the Ole Miss Rebels in its eighth game of the season, sitting with a 4-3 overall record and a 2-3 mark in SEC competition.
Ole Miss is returning home to seek out bowl eligibility after a road defeat at the hands of the Texas Longhorns, one that saw it make a comeback from being down 24-3 in the second half of the game.
The Rebels are now looking to get back on track with their talented players in another tough environment to play in, one a lot of their players got to experience for the first time early this season.
Pete Golding’s squad fielded a lot of transfers over the offseason, many of which have made an impact so far in 2026. Here are five of those transfers to watch heading into Saturday’s action.
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Mahki Frazier, running back
Previous school: Michigan State
With the injury news of Kewan Lacy being out for Ole Miss on Saturday, the role for junior Mahki Frazier just got even larger, something he envisioned when he transferred into Oxford from Michigan State.
His 2025 campaign saw his potential flash, as Frazier received a heavy dose of carries in the first six games of the season for the Spartans, and he ultimately recorded 116 rushes for 520 yards and two touchdowns on the season. Now with the Rebels, while he has only had 51 carries for 301 yards, his average yards per rush is higher than it was in East Lansing, and that same potential has shown in the last three weeks.
In his last two outings, Frazier has averaged 6.7 and 7.8 yards per carry on 21 combined attempts, showing his knack for finding yards on the ground. His number will be one to watch when Ole Miss takes the field on Saturday, as the Rebels have been successful on the ground the last few seasons. Frazier is seeking to continue that.
Horatio Fields, wide receiver
Previous school: Auburn
Another familiar face is suiting up to take on the orange and blue once again, as Horatio Fields fully recovered from last season’s injury and shown what kind of receiver he is with Ole Miss in 2026.
Fields came to the program after time at both Wake Forest and Auburn, and his ability to produce has come to the forefront of his game this season. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound outside receiver currently has 22 receptions for 284 yards and two touchdowns. In the last two outings, he has put up five catches for 94 yards and three touchdowns, including a highlight play in the loss to Texas.
The senior is being utilized more and more by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, making him another key weapon in this versatile receiver room. Fields knows how DJ Durkin likes to operate his defense for the Tigers, making him a viable option to continue making plays this week.
Blake Purchase, EDGE
Previous school: Oregon
The Oregon Ducks have been known for producing some stout athletes over the years, and Blake Purchase has been a living embodiment of that ever since he got to Oxford, being a powerful edge rusher at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds.
In Eugene, Purchase put up 32 total tackles with two sacks and one interception in 2025. Now through seven games with the Rebels, he is close to surpassing that mark with 27 total tackles, while also having 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on the season. He even made a notable play recently, forcing a fumble on Arch Manning in the game against the Longhorns that resulted in a touchdown for Ole Miss, proving his physicality and relentlessness in pressure.
Purchase’s speed makes him an extreme challenge to block on the outside of the line, while his ability to rip the ball out can be a point of emphasis in terms of ball security for an opposing offense. Against an Auburn offensive line that has struggled, he could be due to have a big day.
Luke Ferrelli, linebacker
Previous school: Clemson
In just two years at the collegiate level, Luke Ferrelli is an example of a young guy who has a chance to continue playing football in the NFL once he is eligible to be drafted, as well as another talented linebacker in the SEC.
Ferrelli’s time at Clemson was highlighted by his 91 total tackles for the season, as well as an interception. He has continued to be a force in the middle of the field in 2026, tallying 44 total tackles with two sacks on the year, ranking second on the team in total tackles at this point in time.
With still some more games to go and room to grow, Ferrelli’s impact on what the Rebels are doing on defense is evident, while his consistency makes him a threat to lay down the hammer on any given day, especially as the season goes along.
Sharif Denson, cornerback
Previous school: Florida
When a team is able to land a veteran that has had a wealth of experience playing in the same conference as it and some of the same opponents, that many times makes him a contender to be a difference maker. That is exactly what happened with Sharif Denson, as he came to Ole Miss from Florida and showed his abilities.
Denson has only recorded stats in five games this season, and yet still is the top player in the secondary for the Rebels in terms of total tackles. The senior has put up 35 so far with two pass deflections to go along with it.
His 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame pins him as pretty average in size for a cornerback, but his ability to run along the perimeter of the field is what makes him dangerous in coverage. He has a chance to show that in action on Saturday, especially with Golding planning to use a lot of man coverage against the Tigers.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
