During his junior season, the 4-star Quitman prospect carried for 2,016 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Dear is the Magnolia State’s consensus No. 2 overall recruit in 2025, and he is rated as a top-10 running back in the country.
Dear’s speed, patience while waiting for run lanes to open, and explosiveness when shooting through those gaps place him among the top prospects in the 2025 class. Since his freshman year, he has led the Panthers in offensive production.
Dear began receiving offers after attending the Under Armour All-American camp following his freshman season.
Dear began receiving offers after attending the Under Armour All-American camp following his freshman season.
“At the end, everyone got awards, but I didn’t get one,” remarked Mrs. “Everyone else got interviews, but I didn’t. I did not think I did well enough. You never know who is watching. I had one offer from Mississippi State. My phone started blowing up about two or three weeks later. “I had Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Colorado, Penn State, Florida State, and Southern Miss call and make offers,” he said.
Dear spent a lot of time last season visiting these schools and speaking with coaches. However, having grown up in a small town in East Mississippi that values community, Dear must have found it difficult to commit to leaving the state.
Dear added, “It’s all for them,” referring to his parents. He added, “It’s also for the City of Quitman. I simply want to get out on the field. The faster I can get on the field, the sooner I can make my family, the community, and Quitman proud.”
Getting on the field fast should not be a problem at Oxford.
The Rebels lost star running back Quinshon Judkins to the transfer portal.
Last season, transfer student Ulysses Bentley IV emerged as the clear RB2, accounting for 613 yards and eight touchdowns. His final year of eligibility will be the 2024-25 season.
According to On3.com, Dear has been a priority target for the Rebels since he was offered in February. Following Dear’s commitment, they stated that “Kiffin himself has made Dear feel like a top priority as one of the state’s elite prospects, and he wants to be coached by the Rebels’ head man.”
Dear told On3. “[Kiffin] is a great guy. “I love what he’s doing for Mississippi kids from all over,” he said. “He’s fantastic, a humorous guy even when he’s not trying to be. And I simply want to be coached by
