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Ole Miss Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

By Hunter Kinniburgh

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 17: Van Jefferson #12 of the Mississippi Rebels is chased down by Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 17: Van Jefferson #12 of the Mississippi Rebels is chased down by Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Offense

If there is one clear strength for the Rebels in 2017, it’s the offense. And if there is one player to watch on the offense, it has to be Shea Patterson.

The sophomore started last season due to an ACL injury to starter, Chad Kelly. Patterson made his first start on the road against Texas A&M, and did not disappoint. He led the Rebels to an upset road win and showed flashes of the arm and legs that had him so highly rated coming out of high school.

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The offense has a new offensive coordinator by the name of Phil Longo. Longo was hired from Sam Houston St. and brings an explosive offensive pedigree to Oxford.

Patterson will not be without weapons to distribute the ball too, as the Ole Miss wide receiver corp is arguably the deepest position on the team. The receivers will be led by sophomore A.J. Brown, sophomore Van Jefferson and redshirt freshman D.K. Metcalf.

All three players were big for the receiving corp in 2016. Metcalf would have had a bigger impact, had it not been for a foot injury in the second game of the season. DaMarkus Lodge, Tre Nixon and Markell Pack provide explosive depth as well.

A plus for the entire offense will be the experience and talent of the offensive line. Led by stud left tackle Greg Little, the offensive line should be a huge positive for Ole Miss in 2017. The experience of the line will pay dividends for the Rebel backfield. Jordan Wilkins returns to the lineup after academics kept him out for all of 2016. The Rebels also welcome back running back Eric Swinney after he suffered an ACL injury in the first game of 2016.

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Loss of a playmaker

The biggest loss for the offense in 2017 is the loss of tight end Evan Engram. Engram was incredible in 2016 and it translated into him being a first round pick by the New York Giants. He’ll be replaced by Dawson Knox and Octavious Cooley, although Knox has the upper hand headed into fall camp.

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