Highly touted junior-college wide receiver transfer Deion Smith won’t be joining the Ole Miss football team this fall after all, head coach Lane Kiffin said Wednesday.

Smith’s status has been up in the air since December, when he committed to the Rebels as the No. 1 junior-college recruit in the country. However, Kiffin said during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference that Smith hadn’t been cleared to play for Ole Miss in 2024 and seemed to indicate he never would be.

“Today, I was told that he will not be part of our program,” Kiffin said, via On3 Sports. “So, seems to be the case. Wish him the best of luck, wish it would have worked out. That’s all I got.”

A native of Jackson, Miss., Smith originally signed with LSU as a 4-star recruit in the 2021 class. He totaled 11 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman, but transferred the following spring to Holmes (Miss.) Community College.

After sitting out the 2022 season, the 6-foot-4 Smith was an NJCAA All-American at Holmes last fall. He caught 48 passes for 1,063 yards for 12 touchdowns in just eight games for the Bulldogs, and was listed by 247 Sports as the top JUCO recruit in the 2024 class.

Even without Smith, Ole Miss is loaded at receiver this season. Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins return as starters from last year’s team, while former South Carolina standout Antwane “Juice” Wells transferred in prior to spring practice.

Ole Miss, ranked No. 6 in the preseason, opens the 2024 season at home Saturday vs. Furman.