OTA 2 Practice Report: Committed to the Cause

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss head football coach Pete Golding addressed the media this week, alongside offensive lineman Patrick Kutas and defensive end Kam Franklin, as the Rebels continue spring practice ahead of the 2026 season.

Setting the Standard
Golding made clear that leadership development is a priority this spring, though he was deliberate about how and when that gets pushed onto players. He distinguished between natural leaders and those still growing into the role, noting that forcing vocal leadership too early can do more harm than good.

"Some guys are natural at it and some guys aren't," Golding said. "We're not going to push that on somebody too early."

He pointed to the summer OTA period as where genuine leadership tends to emerge, when coaches step back and players are responsible for running their own workouts.

Kutas has embraced the challenge, saying his biggest goal this spring is building a cohesive room.

"It's a whole new room," Kutas said. "Trying to get all the guys on one page and work together. That was my biggest goal."

Kutas described his approach as leading by example, with himself and fellow returning linemen setting the tone daily.

Committed to the Cause
Golding addressed the transfer portal landscape directly, reiterating his belief that stability is the foundation of player development.

"There's got to be stability to have development," Golding said. "I'd much rather guys not come, than come and leave."

That philosophy shines through in the players who chose to return, and Golding made clear the buy-in is genuine.

"Everybody who's here wants to be here," Golding said. "Everybody who's here has bought into the vision."

Kutas said his belief in Golding and the program's trajectory made his decision to return an easy one.

"We built such an amazing culture and we had an awesome season last year," Kutas said. "I just know that we can build on top of that."

For Franklin, returning carried extra meaning as a Mississippi native.

"I'm from here, so it means a lot to play with that Mississippi logo across my chest," Franklin said. "I genuinely want kids from here and across the country to know that you can do it here in Mississippi."

Building the Roster
Golding spoke at length about how he approached roster construction this offseason, particularly on the defensive front. He said thin interior depth late in the year was a problem and addressed it directly in the portal. The goal on the edges was length and finishing ability at the quarterback, while inside the focus was adding size and rotation depth.

"This league to me is up front," Golding said. "If we're going to invest in players, you better have a role for them."

Golding also spoke to the growth of the freshman class, noting that the youngest players have made the biggest physical strides since arriving in January. He said the strength and conditioning program has been designed to add the right kind of bulk, and the results are already.

Overall, Golding's approach to roster construction reflects a clear focus on building depth, physicality, and defined roles heading into the 2026 season.

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Players Mentioned

Kam Franklin

Patrick Kutas

The University of Mississippi Athletics