OXFORD — A highly rated group of Ole Miss football wide receivers hoped to add another elite option this offseason.

That won't happen, Rebels coach Lane Kiffin confirmed on Wednesday.

"Today, I was told that he won't be part of our program," Kiffin said of Deion Smith, considered by the 247Sports Composite to be the top junior college player in the 2024 cycle.

Kiffin did not explain why Smith will not play for Ole Miss.

Smith is academically ineligible, according to multiple reports.

Smith was not in Oxford for the opening day of Rebels preseason practice, but eventually made his way to campus.

At Holmes Community College last season, Smith accumulated 1,063 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games.

Starting his college career at LSU, Smith showed well as a true freshman in the SEC, catching 11 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

Without him, the Rebels will rely primarily on Tre Harris, Juice Wells and Jordan Watkins. Wells and Watkins have injury concerns heading into the season opener against Furman on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN+).

PERKINS: What Ole Miss' Suntarine Perkins said about where Lane Kiffin is playing him in Rebels defense

David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.

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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Lane Kiffin: Deion Smith won't play for Ole Miss football in 2024