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Ole Miss Football: 5 takeaways from Rebels’ 2017 season

By Andrew Miller

(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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TUSCALOOSA, AL – SEPTEMBER 30: Jalen Hurts #2 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: Jalen Hurts #2 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) /

2. Marquis Haynes, Breeland Speaks highlight underrated defensive line

Not much attention was paid to the Ole Miss defense in 2017. They did have some trouble stopping SEC opponents this year. Giving up 66 points to the Alabama Crimson Tide was not the highlights of the Ole Miss football season in 2017.

However, there were also some very solid performances coming from the Rebels, holding opponents under 30 points and letting the offense really go to work. The defense really came up big in wins over Mississippi State and the Kentucky Wildcats.

Possibly the two best players for the Ole Miss defense this year were senior defensive end Marquis Haynes and junior defensive tackle Breeland Speaks. Ole Miss’s pass rush was very good with Haynes and Speaks combining for 14.5 sacks, as the team leaders in that stat category.

Sophomore defensive tackle Josiah Coatney could help Ole Miss form quite the duo in the middle of the defensive line alongside Speaks. If Speaks returns for his senior year in Oxford, that will bring back 10.0 sacks from the defensive tackle position alone.

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