Ole Miss Football: 5 bold predictions for the Rebels in 2017
No. 4 – Van Jefferson scores 10 touchdowns
Ole Miss has an extremely young receiving corps entering 2016. Gone is elite tight end Evan Engram as well as receivers Damore’ea Stringfellow and Quincy Adeboyejo. Their absence creates a void that needs to be filled. Van Jefferson is ready and able.
Those three pass catchers were responsible for 2,098 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns in 2016. That leaves plenty of room for Jefferson to work with. The Rebels’ leading returning receiver, Jefferson hauled in 49 passes for 543 yards and three scores.
Jefferson is the kind of player that can take the top off a defense. He was named to the SEC Coaches All-Freshman First Team last season. He’ll slide into the slot receiver role that should keep him away from some of the better cover corners in the SEC.
He’ll be the closest man to the quarterback and be an easy target for bubble screens and dump off passes whenever Shea Patterson gets in trouble. Then he’ll be standing behind the safety in the endzone on the next play. He’s versatile and talented, which will cause problems for every defensive coordinator in the conference.