Finding the next wave of talent for Matt Luke and Ole Miss football starts with the exposure during spring practice and the spring game.
Ole Miss football does have the potential to surprise some people in the SEC West in 2018. Given all the circumstances during the 2017 campaign that worked against the Rebels, they still managed a season that would have gotten them bowl eligible if not for the existing sanctions. Yet, there’s a lot to be excited about with this program before the start of the upcoming regular season.
As the interim head coach last year, Matt Luke proved that he could possibly build a solid program up in Oxford. He led the Rebels to a solid outing in 2017, especially when it came to the Egg Bowl victory over in-state rival Mississippi State Bulldogs to cap things off. The Rebels had a lot of fight all throughout the 2017 slate.
Since the SEC West does have some teams with uncertainties in the middle of the pack entering 2018, the Rebels could climb up the standings compared to last year. Ole Miss has the ability to finish ahead of division rivals like the Arkansas Razorbacks, Texas A&M Aggies, and Mississippi State. They already finished ahead of Arkansas in 2017.
There’s a few players that Ole Miss needs to step up in the spring of 2018 to have some momentum entering the regular season slate. The spring game, also known as the Grove Bowl, takes place at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on April 7, at 2 p.m. ET.
Moreover, since the season kicks off fast, with a non-conference matchup against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Week 1, the Rebels need to be ready from the get go. Here’s a look at five players to watch in spring practice for the Ole Miss Rebels.
One of the spots that Ole Miss loses the most talent is along the defensive line, especially on the edges. The Rebels lose key defensive lineman like Breeland Speaks and Marquis Haynes, that were huge pieces of the pass rush.
However, the Rebels do have the talent and flat out athleticism to replace that production, it’s just a matter of execution. The middle of the defensive line needs to be in top shape to lead the way, with rising juniors Josiah Coatney and Benito Jones.
One player to watch along the defensive line for the Rebels in spring practice is former three-star JUCO transfer defensive end Markel Winters. This should be Winters’ last year in Oxford, and his last chance to make an impact for a possible NFL career in the future.
A few other players will surround Winters in the defensive line rotation to make up for the losses of both Speaks and Haynes. Notably, Victor Evans and Ryder Anderson need to step up for this Ole Miss defensive line to be effective in 2018.
There’s more returning production in the linebacking corps than there is on the Ole Miss defensive line. However, the potential leader of this group is rising junior linebacker Brenden Williams. Even though Williams only racked up two total tackles in 2017, he’ll still be counted on in a big way to lead a younger group of linebackers.
Moreover, at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Williams has the size and physical tools necessary to compete at the level required in the SEC each week. Williams will be without the supporting cast of DeMarquis Gates and Taylor Polk, but the younger talent is plentiful.
Gates and Polk were very underrated for being two strong SEC linebackers in 2017. But, their role falls to other linebackers such as Williams, rising junior Jarrion Street, and rising redshirt junior Willie Hibbler. Each of the three showed flashes, but no consistent body of work yet.
The uncertainty factor is what will lead some people to question the ability of the Ole Miss linebackers entering 2018. Returning production constitutes very little in terms of proven in game action for this group, but the ceiling is high for an athletic group of linebackers in Oxford.
By far, the strongest level of the Ole Miss defense is the secondary. Rising sophomore cornerback D.D. Bowie is not even a projected starter entering 2018, and he played well when given the chance in 2017. Bowie will continue get his chance to make an impact in 2018.
However, the returning players in the Ole Miss secondary is a very good group. Senior cornerbacks Javien Hamilton and Ken Webster, along with rising junior cornerback Myles Hartsfield headline the corners. Meanwhile, Zedrick Woods and Jaylon Jones headline the safety position.
If the Ole Miss defense plays well this year, it’ll start in the secondary. Being able to shut down some of the better opposing passing games in the SEC can help bring along younger groups among the linebackers and defensive line.
Possibly the cornerback with the highest upside in this secondary is Bowie. Him and Woods are the foundation of the future of the Ole Miss defense, especially among the defensive backs. In his freshman campaign, Bowie posted six total tackles and one pass deflection. Watch out for him to take an even bigger step in spring practice, and during the 2018 season.
Among all the players on this list, rising senior quarterback Jordan Ta’amu might have the biggest spotlight shining on him. Ta’amu played well after former Rebels quarterback Shea Patterson (now with the Michigan Wolverines) went down with a season-ending knee injury last year.
Since Patterson transferred, and is now in Ann Arbor, MI, Ta’amu can get a sole grasp on the starting quarterback position with the Ole Miss offense. He was a large reason why the Rebels emerged victorious over Mississippi State in Starkville to cap off last season.
In total, Ta’amu racked up 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions last year. He completed more than 65 percent of his passes and threw for 1,682 yards. The thing that makes Ta’amu a real threat in 2018 is his ability to use his legs when the pocket breaks down.
And, considering Ole Miss returns a loaded receiving corps this year, highlighted by superstar A.J. Brown, Ta’amu has multiple ways he can gash opposing defenses. He’ll be fun to watch this spring, as he tries to take command of the starting job ahead of the arrival of four-star prospect Matt Corral on campus this fall.
The thinnest area of depth on the offensive side of the ball for the Rebels is with the running backs. The loss of 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Wilkins is going to hurt the versatility of the Ole Miss offense this year, and there’s not much production coming back to replace him.
Moreover, losing D’Vaughn Pennamon to injury further hurts the situation in the backfield. The most experienced rusher coming back is rising junior Eric Swinney. He did have a strong stat line in 2017, and looks to continue his development as the potential starting rusher.
Last year, Swinney racked up 218 total yards and three touchdowns on 47 touches. Swinney also averaged nearly 5.0 yards per carry, signaling the ability to be an efficient rusher when the torch is officially passed to him as the starter.
Next: 5 Ole Miss recruits who can make an instant impact in 2018
The dual threat ability of Ta’amu will make it easier on the Ole Miss running backs easing into the offensive spotlight. However, you need a solid ground game in the SEC, and we’ll see how the depth at that position forms with players like Swinney in the fold this spring.