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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Peach Buzz: Wade’s Career Comes Full Circle in Atlanta
12/26/2023 | Football
Presented by Kroger
ATLANTA – Dayton Wade began his college football journey in obscurity out of Atlanta. Now, he's returning to his hometown a star to play his final game in an Ole Miss uniform before realizing his NFL dreams.
The road for Wade hasn't been easy or orthodox. Despite a stellar senior season at Lovejoy just outside of Georgia's capital city, the undersized receiver didn't have a Power 5 offer coming out of high school and wasn't one of the state's top 200 prospects.
He signed with Western Kentucky and showed promise as a freshman in 2020, but the star-studded career never materialized with the Hilltoppers after his sophomore season was cut short due to injury.
Wade had NFL aspirations but was now looking for a new path. Fortunately, a former teammate at WKU saw the star Wade could become. Jahcour Pearson, who himself transferred to Ole Miss after catching passes at Western Kentucky, told Wade that he could be dynamic in Lane Kiffin's offense.
With a professional career in mind, Wade trusted Pearson and bet on himself, transferring to Ole Miss without a scholarship offer in hand.
"When I transferred here, walk-on and all, that was my goal. It was to come in, go to the SEC where the best players play, and show them like, hey, I'm playing. I'm here. I'm a force to be reckoned with," Wade said. "And then get up out of here and continue to chase my dreams as being one of the best to ever do it."
It wasn't just an easy jump to a better situation. It was a leap of faith. As a walk-on in a difficult financial situation, Wade had to make it the hard way.
"At the start, I ain't going to lie, it was a little rocky. It wasn't peaches and cream," Wade said. "I had a walk-on, so I didn't have no meal plan or anything like that. I wasn't swiping in. was missing meals and whatnot. I was living off like homemade sandwiches and scrambled eggs and whatnot for a good little minute. But that's what you work for. But outside of everything, they still was looking out for me, knowing the situation that I came from and the circumstances. It was just up to me to prove who I am. I never ever had any doubt of what I could do and who I am as a player and as a person."
While he dealt with challenges off the field, he also had to fight for playing time against better competition than ever. In the first depth chart of the 2022 season, Wade was listed third behind Jonathan Mingo and as co-second string alongside Dannis Jackson.
He caught five passes in the first two games and zero in each of the next four. Finally, in mid-October against Auburn, Wade earned his first start and made the most of it, totaling 157 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
Wade finished Year 1 in Oxford with 27 catches for 309 yards and three TDs, nine carries for 78 yards and 14 kick returns for 307 yards, enough to earn a scholarship in the spring.
In 2023, Wade has become a star for the Rebel receiving corps, turning in acrobatic, highlight-reel grabs seemingly every week, finishing the regular season with 52 catches for 769 yards and four touchdowns, enough to throw his hat into the ring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
While many of his teammates have announced their intentions to return to Oxford next season, Wade's sights remained fixed on the NFL.
"For me, I didn't really put that much thought into it," Wade said. "With different people, everybody's like NIL, getting ahead and whatnot. For me, that's not even what it's about. I'm just trying to play ball. I want to be great. So this is the next step in me being great."
As Wade's journey comes full circle this weekend, he's thankful for the Ole Miss community that helped make it all possible.
"Now that I'm at the end of this Ole Miss road, like this journey, like thinking back, I'm just glad the Oxford community, they just welcomed me the way they did. The way they welcomed me with open arms, brought me in. They're the reason I'm really here right now, you know what I'm saying?" Wade said. "All the encouragement and support and whatnot. The Ole Miss community is just really great. I'm thankful to be in this position, like really."
Wade will do it one last time for the Rebels before taking the next step on his journey. The 2023 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is set for an 11 a.m. CT kick on ESPN.
Party in the ATL
Limited bowl tickets are still available through the Ole Miss ticket office. All lower level seating is sold out for the Ole Miss allotment. 300 Level tickets may be purchased in the Ole Miss sections at OleMissTix.com.
Grab the latest bowl gear and your Red gameday outfit through Ole Miss Authentics!
2024 Party in the Sip Sweepstakes
Don't miss any of the action in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2024. Fans interested in 2024 football tickets can join our ticket interest list to be the first to know when tickets are available, and to enter the Party in the Sip Sweepstakes. One lucky winner will receive a VIP package for the home opener on August 31. The VIP package includes a premium tailgate experience, participation in the Walk of Champions, two sideline passes, and two field suite tickets.
The road for Wade hasn't been easy or orthodox. Despite a stellar senior season at Lovejoy just outside of Georgia's capital city, the undersized receiver didn't have a Power 5 offer coming out of high school and wasn't one of the state's top 200 prospects.
He signed with Western Kentucky and showed promise as a freshman in 2020, but the star-studded career never materialized with the Hilltoppers after his sophomore season was cut short due to injury.
Wade had NFL aspirations but was now looking for a new path. Fortunately, a former teammate at WKU saw the star Wade could become. Jahcour Pearson, who himself transferred to Ole Miss after catching passes at Western Kentucky, told Wade that he could be dynamic in Lane Kiffin's offense.
With a professional career in mind, Wade trusted Pearson and bet on himself, transferring to Ole Miss without a scholarship offer in hand.
"When I transferred here, walk-on and all, that was my goal. It was to come in, go to the SEC where the best players play, and show them like, hey, I'm playing. I'm here. I'm a force to be reckoned with," Wade said. "And then get up out of here and continue to chase my dreams as being one of the best to ever do it."
It wasn't just an easy jump to a better situation. It was a leap of faith. As a walk-on in a difficult financial situation, Wade had to make it the hard way.
"At the start, I ain't going to lie, it was a little rocky. It wasn't peaches and cream," Wade said. "I had a walk-on, so I didn't have no meal plan or anything like that. I wasn't swiping in. was missing meals and whatnot. I was living off like homemade sandwiches and scrambled eggs and whatnot for a good little minute. But that's what you work for. But outside of everything, they still was looking out for me, knowing the situation that I came from and the circumstances. It was just up to me to prove who I am. I never ever had any doubt of what I could do and who I am as a player and as a person."
While he dealt with challenges off the field, he also had to fight for playing time against better competition than ever. In the first depth chart of the 2022 season, Wade was listed third behind Jonathan Mingo and as co-second string alongside Dannis Jackson.
He caught five passes in the first two games and zero in each of the next four. Finally, in mid-October against Auburn, Wade earned his first start and made the most of it, totaling 157 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
Wade finished Year 1 in Oxford with 27 catches for 309 yards and three TDs, nine carries for 78 yards and 14 kick returns for 307 yards, enough to earn a scholarship in the spring.
In 2023, Wade has become a star for the Rebel receiving corps, turning in acrobatic, highlight-reel grabs seemingly every week, finishing the regular season with 52 catches for 769 yards and four touchdowns, enough to throw his hat into the ring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
While many of his teammates have announced their intentions to return to Oxford next season, Wade's sights remained fixed on the NFL.
"For me, I didn't really put that much thought into it," Wade said. "With different people, everybody's like NIL, getting ahead and whatnot. For me, that's not even what it's about. I'm just trying to play ball. I want to be great. So this is the next step in me being great."
As Wade's journey comes full circle this weekend, he's thankful for the Ole Miss community that helped make it all possible.
"Now that I'm at the end of this Ole Miss road, like this journey, like thinking back, I'm just glad the Oxford community, they just welcomed me the way they did. The way they welcomed me with open arms, brought me in. They're the reason I'm really here right now, you know what I'm saying?" Wade said. "All the encouragement and support and whatnot. The Ole Miss community is just really great. I'm thankful to be in this position, like really."
Wade will do it one last time for the Rebels before taking the next step on his journey. The 2023 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is set for an 11 a.m. CT kick on ESPN.
Party in the ATL
Limited bowl tickets are still available through the Ole Miss ticket office. All lower level seating is sold out for the Ole Miss allotment. 300 Level tickets may be purchased in the Ole Miss sections at OleMissTix.com.
Grab the latest bowl gear and your Red gameday outfit through Ole Miss Authentics!
2024 Party in the Sip Sweepstakes
Don't miss any of the action in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2024. Fans interested in 2024 football tickets can join our ticket interest list to be the first to know when tickets are available, and to enter the Party in the Sip Sweepstakes. One lucky winner will receive a VIP package for the home opener on August 31. The VIP package includes a premium tailgate experience, participation in the Walk of Champions, two sideline passes, and two field suite tickets.
Players Mentioned
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PRESSER | Lane Kiffin - Week 3 vs. Arkansas (09-08-25)
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