Pete Golding is allowing Isaac Ukwu to show off his versatility within Ole Miss defense

One of the first big transfer portal gets by Pete Golding early in his tenure as the newest Ole Miss defensive coordinator was Isaac Ukwu.

The former James Madison defensive end came to Oxford and visted Golding, Ole Miss defensive line coach Randall Joyner in early May. On May 19 Ukwu found his new home and it was with the Rebels.

Similar to what other transfer portal additions have said, Ukwu really like his visit with Golding and the vision he had for him within the Ole Miss defense.

“It really came down to coach Golding’s defense and also coach Joyner,” Ukwu said. “I sat down with coach Golding, I sat down with coach Joyner and they way they talked about how I would be used in the defense and the type of defense coach Golding was bringing over from Alabama. I just thought it would be able to showcase my versatility and the different things I can do. Like, playing standing up, hand in the dirt. Things like that.”

The ability to also go back into pass coverage along with being a key piece of the new four-man front also piqued Ukwu’s interest.

“I wanted to go to a school where I’d have a chance to play and a chance to win another ring,” Ukwu added.

Through three weeks of fall camp Ukwu has worked his way firmly into the defensive line’s two-deep rotation. He is one of four new faces that are currently in a projected two-deep chart for that room.

Newcomers Akelo Stone, Stephon Wynn and Joshua Harris have also earned a place in the two-man rotation.

Ukwu is currently behind Cedric Johnson in one of the two EDGE positions along the Ole Miss defensive front.

Johnson, who is the 2023 Chucky Mullins Courage Award recipient, is going to be the starter with Ukwu serving as a more than capable backup.

Both will be getting considerable playing time at the same position as Kiffin likes to rotate his players to keep them as fresh as possible for the late stages of the game.

Knowing it is not a position battle, per se, Ukwu is enjoying the experience of playing with and behind Johnson.

“It’s just always good to have someone to compete with, bounce ideas off of,” Ukwu said of playing with Johnson. “Try out different moves. He’s teaching me moves, I’m teaching him moves. Having another player of that caliber play alongside you is just going to keep making us go up and up and up, competing with one another and getting better.”

After his time at James Madison, where Ukwu played in 28 games and started in 25 of them, there has been a growth to himself and his game.

Entering his first season at Ole Miss all of that previous experience has Ukwu prepared for the first year in the Southeastern Conference.

“I would say every year playing college football I’ve matured more and more,” Ukwu said. “Not just in age but my mindset and the way I attack things. More of a business-like approach. Trying to get things done when they’re supposed to be done and taking everything seriously. When I was younger I used to joke around a lot. Always think I had time, always think I had this and that. As you get older you gain more of a sense of urgency. This football stuff can end at anytime. So I’m taking it one day at a time.”

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