Wes Neighbors III

Biography

Wes Neighbors III is in his third year as safeties coach at Ole Miss entering 2025. Neighbors' safeties helped contribute to one of the best all-around defenses in Ole Miss history in 2024 that led the nation in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120) while ranking second at 80.5 rushing yards allowed per game -- the fewest by a Rebel defense since 1966. That Rebel defense was protected on high by senior safeties John Saunders Jr. and Trey Washington, who combined for 111 tackles, 4.5 TFL, four interceptions, 13 pass breakups and five forced fumbles. In his first season in Oxford in 2023, Neighbors coached a talented safeties group that helped propel Ole Miss to its first 11-win season in program history. The Landshark D led the SEC and ranked fifth in the FBS in turnover margin at +11, helped greatly by 13 interceptions -- second-most in the SEC and the most by a Rebel defense since 2015. Leading the safety group was NFL Draft pick Daijahn Anthony, who was taken in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals. Anthony was a force for the Rebels, tying for the team lead with three picks, leading with eight pass breakups while ranking fourth on the team at 61 tackles. Fellow safeties Trey Washington and John Saunders Jr. were key starters for the Rebels en route to their Peach Bowl victory, with Washington leading the team with 83 tackles while also tallying three INTs, and Saunders third on the team at 65 tackles and also three picks and five PBUs. Neighbors arrives in Oxford af

Career Path