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Ole Miss Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Cal in Week 3

By Andrew Miller

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 9: Wide receiver DaMarkus Lodge #5 of the Mississippi Rebels signals first down after he catches a pass during the second quarter of an NCAA football game against the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 9, 2017 in OXFORD, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 9: Wide receiver DaMarkus Lodge #5 of the Mississippi Rebels signals first down after he catches a pass during the second quarter of an NCAA football game against the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 9, 2017 in OXFORD, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Jordan Wilkins #22 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates his touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the third quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Jordan Wilkins #22 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates his touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the third quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

1. Jordan Wilkins finally breaks out

The focal point of the Ole Miss offense has largely been on the passing game. Senior running back Jordan Wilkins ran for just 65 yards and one touchdown so far. He was expected to do much more after coming back to action for the first time since 2015.

Wilkins missed the entire 2016 campaign due to academic ineligibility. That was a disappointment to Ole Miss because he was supposed to play a big role in the offense last year after he rushed for more than 700 yards and five touchdowns in his first two years in Oxford.

Last week, only 54 of Ole Miss’s more than 500 offensive yards came from the ground game. And 36 of those came from Wilkins alone. There’s few options for Ole Miss on the ground beside Wilkins. Sophomore Eric Swinney is the backup and he only has eight carries this year.

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This is a great opportunity for Wilkins to prove his worth. The game is nationally televised on ESPN and gives Pac-12 fans a rare chance to see one of the less followed SEC teams. Since Ole Miss is ineligible for a bowl game, not as many people have paid attention to them. Wilkins has a chance to bring some more national attention to the program in Week 3.

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