Ole Miss Rebels 2018 Football Preview

Ole Miss Rebels 2018 Football Preview

Opening Statement: Do you remember back when the Rebels could not climb out of the SEC basement for years? You are about to get familiar with those memories all over again. The off-field disaster that was Hugh Freeze has plummeted the Rebels program into darkness, and although they tried to reach outside of the program to find an interested coach that could hold things together, the reality was that nobody wanted to touch this mess with a 30 foot pole. Matt Luke was elevated from interim as the answer, but there is a 2018 bowl ban, a bunch of transfers moving out, and an overall lack of depth and talent to deal with, and it is not a good situation in Oxford for 2018.

Breakdown Offense: Jordan Ta'amu took over at QB when Shea Patterson was injured last season and never relinquished the job. He passed for 1682 yards and 11 TDs to 4 INTs in 8 games, and averaged 210.3 yards passing per game, while completing 66.5% of his passes. He added 4 rushing TDs on the season as well, and now has to be the man for the Rebels on offense. Incoming freshman Matt Corral looks like the future at the position, and could end up as the backup. Alex Faniel and Jason Pellarin are the only other scholarship QBs left on the roster, but neither have attempted a pass.

The Rebels are looking for a new starter at RB, but the options are few. Eric Swinney appears to be the choice, while JC transfer Scott Phillips will need to step in and fill out some depth. D'Vaughan Pennamon was injured last season, and his availability is unknown currently. Swinney carried just 41 times last fall. All in all, this is a fairly weak position for Ole Miss, as the Rebels ranked just 103rd nationally in rushing yards per game last season.

AJ Brown is a beast at WR, and returns to give the Rebels a star quality player that they need in the passing game. He posted 75-1252-11 last season, and is a future NFL first round pick. He averaged 16.69 yards per catch. DK Metcalk returns after posting a line of 39-646-7, and DeMarkus Lodge also returns to the lineup after -posting a line of 41-698-7. The Rebels may have one of the bets receiving corps in the nation heading into the fall. Van Jefferson transferred out to Florida after a 42 catch season, so that could effect depth, but Braylon Sanders is back after playing in 7 games as a freshman. Watch for Elijah Moore, a true freshman, to have some impact as a slot receiver this fall.

Dawson Knox, who caught 24 passes last fall, returns as the TE for the Rebels. He had surgery after last season ended, but should be ready to go this fall. Octavious Cooley returns as the backup after playing in 10 games last fall, and Michael Howard fills in as the jumbo TE on short yardage plays as an extra blocker.

The line will return 4 starters this fall in Greg Little (LT) is the star up front, and is joined by Javon Patterson (LG), Sean Rawlings (C), and Alex Givens (RT). Senior Jordan Sims is penciled in for now as the starter at RG. Bryce Matthews, Ben Brown, and Royce Newman, all sophomores, are the depth for now, but have little by way of experience.

Breakdown Defense: Ole Miss finished 115th nationally in total defense last fall, and return just 4 starters from that unit. IN essence, it's a reboot through attrition this season, as the Rebels try to find respectability on this side of the football.

Two starters return up front on the line in DTs Benito Jones and Josiah Coatney.This was an active duo as they tried to find their way as new starters last season, and they ended up combining for 15.5 TFLs on the season. This could be one of the better interior duos in the nation, but they need plenty of help around them, something they did not have a year ago. Ross Donelly and Austrian Robinson are the backups, while Sincere McDonald redshirted last fall after switching over from the O line.

Both Ends must be replaced this fall. Sophomore Ryder Anderson and junior Qaadir Sheppard are penciled in as starters for now. Victor Evans could also battle for one of these spots, but will get plenty of reps either way this fall. Charles Wiley and Markel Winters are trying to prove themselves as backups. This is a position thin on overall experience, and could be a problem area.

It's total reboot time at LB, as the Rebels are looking to move to a 4-2-5 look this fall. Detric Bing-Dukes is slated to start at one spot, and played in just 9 games last year, totaling just 24 tackles. Josh Clarke, a freshman, is penciled in to start at the second LB spot. Brendan Williams could have some say in the battle as well, but totaled just 2 tackles last season. Donta Evans and Willie Hibler both return as well, but overall, this is not what one could call a great unit.

The secondary returns 3 players with starting experience this fall. Zedrick Woods (SS) and CJ Moore (SS) are back to anchor a group that allowed 214 yards passing per game. They combined for 7 PBUs last season. Woods finished with 64 tackles, while Moore finished the year with 51 tackles. Jaylon Jones finished the season with 34 tackles, and could push for some work here. Montrell Custis, CJ Miller, and Cam Ordway are all back to provide decent depth.

Myles Hartsfield is the lone returning starter at CB this fall. He totaled just 3 PBUs last season, so the CB spot is a bit thin on production. Ken Webster is slated as the other starting CB heading into fall camp. He totaled just 2 PBUs last fall. Javion Hamilton also returns, and could push Webster in the fall. DD Bowie is back to provide depth.

Vernon Dasher, a junior, should fill the role of Nickel Back this fall.

Breakdown Special Teams: Gary Wunderlich is gone after hitting 81% of his FG attempts last fall. Luke Logan his 2/3 attempts, and was perfect on 9 PATs last fall as a freshman. He takes over.

Will Gleeson has moved on at Punter, and Mac Brown takes over after averaging 42.2 yards per punt on 5 tries last season.

Jaylon Jones should be the primary KR man once again after averaging 25 yards per return with one score last season. Brown averaged 6.71 yards per PR last fall, and will handle the job once again.

Final Analysis: The Rebels are a mess on defense, and while there are pieces in place to try and patch it up, there is inexperience all over the place that may undermine some efforts. Depth is at issue on both sides of the football, so some ill times injuries could derail the plan this fall. The bowl ban does not help either, as it is hard to get motivated in a season where you know you aren't going anywhere. Luke was the safe choice as head coach to try and stabilize the program, but he will not be immune next season if things are not going well. It is simply a "show me" year in 2018, and then the pressure ramps up in 2019.