Former Ole Miss and NFL running back Dexter McCluster speaks at his induction to the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2021. McCluster returns to the University of Mississippi on Feb. 2 as the next featured speaker in the Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series. Photo by James D. Smith/CBAA
University of Mississippi students, community members invited to February 2, 2024, event at Ford Center
Former Ole Miss and NFL standout Dexter McCluster will return to the University of Mississippi campus on Friday, February 2, 2024, to share his inspirational story as the next featured speaker in the Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series.
The legendary college and professional football player achieved great success during his years on the gridiron and, more recently, as a sought-after fitness coach and father of five daughters.
“I’m so looking forward to sharing stories about my journey,” McCluster said. “I’ll talk about my college career and my NFL career, and I’ll talk about being a girl-dad to our incredible five daughters.
“I also want to talk about how important it is to find your purpose. Often, when you’re a student in college, you’re not sure what it is, but I can promise you, everyone has a purpose.”
McCluster’s talk is set for 7 pm in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. General admission tickets for the lecture and VIP tickets for a 6 pm reception are available. The reception will feature refreshments, a meet-and-greet with McCluster and priority seating during the lecture.
Purchase a ticket for either event here.
The RCK Lecture Series is hosted by the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy and will be presented as part of its annual PULSE Leadership Conference. The annual conference is a leadership training event for all UM students.
“Having the PULSE Conference and this particular RCK Lecture Series event on the same weekend works so well together because Dexter McCluster is a relatively recent Ole Miss graduate, so he is not too far removed from UM,” said Candie Simmons, a UM alumna and Women’s Council member. “Not only can he share his enthusiasm about Ole Miss, but he can also share his thoughts about navigating life after college.”
A 10-year resident of the Nashville, Tennessee, area, McCluster said he is thrilled to be invited back to campus, where he majored in journalism and business.
“Every time I return, I get that same feeling I had when I stepped on campus the first time as a freshman,” he said. “I absolutely love it there and coming back just gives me the best feeling.”
McCluster is a four-year letterwinner for the Rebels and he finished No. 2 on the Ole Miss career all-purpose yardage list with 4,089, behind only Deuce McAlister‘s 4,889. He earned third-team All-America honors in 2009 after rushing for 1,169 yards, the second-highest total in school history, and eight touchdowns as a senior.
He received the National Running Back Trophy from the College Football Performance Awards and became the first SEC player with 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season.
McCluster finished seventh in the SEC in all-purpose yards, with 98.5 yards per game, and topped the team in rushing yards, with 655, and six rushing TDs.
After he became just the second offensive player to earn back-to-back Cotton Bowl MVP honors in 2009 and 2010, McCluster was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2021.
He was drafted in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. After four seasons in Kansas City, he spent two years with the Tennessee Titans and then the 2016 season with the San Diego Chargers.
In recent years, McCluster has become an in-demand fitness instructor and was named one of the 10 Most Influential Trainers of 2021 by USA Top 100.
Since its launch in 2021, the Khayat Lecture Series has provided a platform where university students, faculty, staff and alumni can join with diverse segments of the community to hear from thought-provoking speakers, performers, cultural leaders and philanthropists.
Proceeds from the lecture series support the OMWC Global Leadership Circle, a program aiding students who want to study abroad or pursue internships.
In its 24th year, the Women’s Council has gained a reputation as one of the most transformational scholarship programs in the nation. Since being launched in 2000, the council has built an endowment totaling nearly $20 million and awarded its prestigious and generous scholarships to 185 students.
Thirty-eight scholars are receiving the $40,000 scholarships. OMWC scholars get access to full-time scholar support staff, career and life mentoring, leadership development, guidance for a philanthropic approach to life, and opportunities to travel, study abroad and attend cultural and educational events designed specifically for these scholars.
By Jonathan Scott
