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Ole Miss Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

By Hunter Kinniburgh

COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 12: A.J. Brown #1 of the Mississippi Rebels rushes past Justin Evans #14 of the Texas A&M Aggies in the second quarter at Kyle Field on November 12, 2016 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 12: A.J. Brown #1 of the Mississippi Rebels rushes past Justin Evans #14 of the Texas A&M Aggies in the second quarter at Kyle Field on November 12, 2016 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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OXFORD, MS – OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Sean White #13 of the Auburn Tigers scrambles for a first down as he runs past linebacker Tayler Polk #24 of the Mississippi Rebels during the 2nd half of an NCAA college football game on October 29, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS – OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Sean White #13 of the Auburn Tigers scrambles for a first down as he runs past linebacker Tayler Polk #24 of the Mississippi Rebels during the 2nd half of an NCAA college football game on October 29, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /

Linebackers 

Starting outside linebackers: DeMarquis Gates, Brenden Williams
Backups: Ray Ray Smith, Breon Dixon, Tayler Polk, Josh Clarke

To be honest, linebacker is anyones guess at this point. Any of these players could start and vice versa. The position was horrendous in 2016 and really can only go up from there. DeMarquis Gates is a stud when he has his head on straight. He has the talent, he ended 2016 as the leading tackler, he just has to apply himself. Brenden Williams is a transfer from Northeast Mississippi CC who went through spring training and could be a capable starter.

Breon Dixon is an early enrolled freshman who went through spring drills and was rotating in with the first team starters. He could be a breakout players for Ole Miss. Ray Ray Smith will also rotate in and was highly praised coming into Ole Miss. We’ll see what he’s got this season. Polk is a former walk-on that has seen time due to depth issues. He gives maximum effort on every play and wouldn’t surprise me to see him on the field at some point. Clarke is an incoming freshman who very well could see playing time.

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Starting middle linebacker: Detric Bing-Dukes
Backups: Mohamed Sanogo, Donta Evans

Detric Bing-Dukes is the starter but will really have to fight incoming freshman Mohamed Sanogo to keep that spot. While it might seem scary to start a true freshman at middle linebacker, Sanogo is talented. Bing-Dukes was on again off again in 2016 and will have to prove to be more reliable in the position. Either way, linebacker will not be settled for Ole Miss until near or after the first game. Donta Evans is unproven to this point but could easily take hold of the starting job as well.

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