Ole Miss Football: Chad Kelly, Rebels offense ready to roll in 2016
The Ole Miss football program has lived on the strength of its defense in recent years, but the Rebels may have an offense to match this season.
When most college football fans think of the 2016 Ole Miss Rebels, two things might come to their minds; returning quarterback Chad Kelly and then the players, particularly Laquon Treadwell, Laremy Tunsil and Robert Nkemdiche, chosen in the NFL draft last April.
Ole Miss’ offense returns its best player but loses two key players from the 2015 unit that led the SEC in scoring and total offense. While most seem to believe that the Rebel offense might slightly regress, the amount of talent returning in 2016 seems to suggest that Ole Miss can once again sit atop the SEC in offense.
QUARTERBACK
Without a doubt, Chad Kelly is the best returning quarterback in the SEC, possibly even in the entire country. Kelly led Ole Miss to 10 wins in his first season in a Rebel uniform, throwing for 4,042 yards and 31 TD’s along the way.
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Kelly will be looked at once again to lead the Rebels with his arm and his legs (he did rush for 500 yards last season) in the 2016 season. While Kelly will miss WR Laquon Treadwell this fall, he still has many talented receivers to get the ball to in Hugh Freeze’s up-tempo offense.
If Kelly were to get hurt his backup would seem to be true freshman Shea Patterson, who enrolled this past spring and went through spring practices with the team. Patterson was widely regarded as the number 1 overall QB recruit in the 2016 recruiting class.
With Chad Kelly out in the spring with a sports hernia injury, Patterson worked with the first team offense for much of the spring. Rounding out the quarterback depth chart is redshirt freshman, Jason Pellerin.
RUNNING BACK
Throughout Hugh Freeze’s time as Head Coach at Ole Miss, Running Back has been a less than stellar position. In 2016, the running back corps returns both Jordan Wilkins and Akeem Judd to the backfield.
Both rushed for a combined 800 yards of offense in the Rebels’ backfield by committee approach to the running game. With them comes redshirt freshman Eric Swinney, who drew attention for being a bruising trucker of a runner in the spring and would have played last season if not for injury.
While the Rebels do lose Jaylen Walton, they gain three bigger backs capable of blocking and running between the tackles, something that has been missing for the last two seasons.
Wide Receiver & Tight End
Many college football teams could lose a star receiver to the first round of the NFL Draft and be understandably worried about the position the following year. For Ole Miss, its a next man up philosophy.
The Ole Miss offense has been spoiled with the likes of Donte Moncrief and Laquon Treadwell at receiver for the past 4 seasons combined. This year the group returns notable contributors Quincy Adeboyejo and Damore’ea Stringfellow, who are every bit as physical as Treadwell.
New to the receiving corps will be redshirt freshman Van Jefferson, a speedy slot receiver, and sophomore Damarkus Lodge, who played sparingly in 2015 but showed promise as a get-up-and-get-it possession receiver.
Along with them will be true freshman A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf. At tight end, Ole Miss was lucky to not lose Evan Engram to the NFL Draft as he returns for his senior season. After a slow start to last season, Engram looks to return to being an up the middle pass catching threat for Chad Kelly. Octavious Cooley, a true freshman, will most likely back Engram up.
After a slow start to last season, Engram looks to return to being an up the middle pass catching threat for Chad Kelly. Octavious Cooley, a true freshman, will most likely back Engram up.
Offensive Line
If there was one position that could seem to derail a record-breaking season for the Ole Miss offense, it would be the offensive line. The loss of Laremy Tunsil will be felt, however, Ole Miss has players returning with plenty of playing experience to help solidify the line and protect Chad Kelly.
Sean Rawlings, a sophomore, played right tackle in many games last year and looks to return to the position this fall battle hardened in the trenches. Alongside Rawlings will be Javon Patterson and Jordan Sims at guard, Robert Conyers will play center.
This leaves Tunsil’s vacated position of left tackle. Hugh Freeze and his staff secured the commitment of Greg Little, the top OT in the country in 2016 and he would seem to be in line to start come week one against Florida State due to depth.
While it is never ideal to start a freshman against a top five team in the first game of the season, Freeze may not have a choice. Going up against the ferocious Ole Miss defensive line in fall camp should at least help prepare Little for the level of competition that he will face on Labor Day in Orlando, Florida.
Conclusion
As Chad Kelly goes, so goes the Ole Miss offense. As the Ole Miss offensive line goes, so goes Chad Kelly. In order for the Rebels offense to live up to expectation and help carry the team to a championship, the offensive line has to get situated and gel.
That will be no easy task as 3 out of the first 4 games of the schedule are against Florida State, Alabama and Georgia. If Kelly has the time, he will get the ball to his receivers.
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If Ole Miss can at least get adequate play out of its offensive line, then the Rebels have a great shot at going toe to toe against playoff contending teams and marching toward their first ever SEC West Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
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