Ole Miss Football: 3 breakout candidates for the 2022 season

Ole Miss football was one of the breakout teams last season but the Rebels lose a lot from that team. Who will break out to get them back on top in 2022?

Ole Miss football was one of the nation’s top breakout teams in 2021 and everyone has their sights set on Oxford and head coach Lane Kiffin. Can he replicate that success in 2022?

The Rebels went 10-3 and 6-2 in the SEC behind the strong arm of Matt Corral and the strong running game led by Jerrion Ealy, Snoop Conner, and Henry Parrish Jr. On the other hand, the defense was lacking quite a bit as the Rebels were 97th nationally in total yards allowed and 51st in scoring — oh, and 105th against the run.

Kiffin is hoping to change all of that and he has the pieces to do so.

Here’s who could break out and get the Rebels back to 10-plus wins again in 2022.

Remember when I said that Ole Miss had the 105th-best run defense in the country last year? Yeah, well Tywone Malone will help improve that.

Although he may not start at the beginning of the year (he definitely should), he’s going to earn a role in the starting lineup eventually. He’s too good to be coming off the bench, especially with his incredible size and ability to get to the quarterback quickly.

Malone is listed at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds and he could legitimately overpower any opposing offensive lineman that gets in his way. He only saw action in one game last season with three tackles and a sack, but there’s so much in his tank and his potential is scary.

There’s a reason he was a top-75 recruit in the 2021 class.