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Ole Miss Football: 2017 midseason grades by position

By Hunter Kinniburgh

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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TUSCALOOSA, AL – SEPTEMBER 30: Bo Scarbrough #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes away from Marquis Haynes #38 of the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL – SEPTEMBER 30: Bo Scarbrough #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes away from Marquis Haynes #38 of the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

Grade: D

This is without a doubt the biggest surprise on this list. The defensive line for Ole Miss has so much talent and yet for the second year in a row, they’re underwhelming. The pressure just isn’t there. Gap assignments aren’t there. Needless to say, there’s room for improvement.

The defensive line has to do a better job in stopping run games. Kerryon Johnson rushed for 204 yards against this defense and he had holes that a mack truck could fit through.

Marquis Haynes has to be the senior defensive end that he is and start getting to the quarterback. He got to Jarrett Stidham a couple of times. Breeland Speaks moving to defensive end is an excellent move and I think that will help. Benito Jones has to get back to performing like he did as a freshman. His get-off is quick and he should be able to get into the backfield before a running back is past the line of scrimmage.

There’s hope for this unit, Josiah Coatney has been a huge surprise, but for now this is the most underperforming unit based on the talent that is there for Ole Miss this season.

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