Caleb Cunningham could have left after last season. Ole Miss had a coaching change, and his position coach went somewhere else. The receiver from Weir, Mississippi, stayed, and on Tuesday he said it wasn’t a hard call.
Me from being from Mississippi, I just wanted to stay home and represent this state. And I knew my opportunity would come because I had faith in myself and got to give faith to God… It wasn’t a hard decision. It wasn’t a hard decision. Not at all. Like, this is where I want to be, so I’m going to stay here.
Caleb Cunningham
The opportunity came. Cunningham caught his first career touchdown against Missouri, then caught a 6-yard touchdown against Auburn on Saturday, the score that made it 31-15 during Ole Miss’s 28 unanswered points.
“Coach me hard”
Asked when things started to click, Cunningham said this spring, and he gave the credit to his receivers coach, who he calls Coach LD.
He coached me hard as he can… I’m the main one in the room that he really be on for sure, which I like. I told him from the get-go, like, I want you to coach me hard. Like, that’s gonna only get me better.
Caleb Cunningham, on his receivers coach
He also explained why offensive players talk about Pete Golding the same way the defense does.
He real genuine. Like, that’s one word for him. He genuine. And he going to keep it real with you… And then plus, he a Mississippi guy too, for sure. And his energy. His energy speaks a lot.
Caleb Cunningham, on Pete Golding
“The best crowd in America”
Asked why Ole Miss is so hard to beat at home, Cunningham started with the people in the stands.
You got to give all the credit to the fans. You know, they the ones that bring the energy and we just feed off of it, you know. And then, you know, we got the best crowd in America for sure.
Caleb Cunningham
On the playoff rankings, released a few hours later with Ole Miss at No. 10, he kept it short.
We got Georgia next. That’s all that matters. So we ain’t looking ahead.
Caleb Cunningham
Without Kewan Lacy
Ole Miss has played without its lead back, and Golding said Monday the Rebels don’t expect Lacy this week. Cunningham credited the backs who stepped in. Ole Miss ran for 224 yards against Auburn.
It hurt that we had lost him. But, you know, the backup running back, they played a huge role… you never know when your name is called. So, they was ready.
Caleb Cunningham
Quotes from Caleb Cunningham’s Georgia-week press availability in Oxford, Nov. 3, 2026. No. 2 Georgia (7-1) visits No. 10 Ole Miss (6-2, 4-2 SEC) on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC. For more, listen to Locked On Ole Miss every weekday, or join the Everydayer Club.