Coming off a berth in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, one of the inaugural New Year’s Six, the Ole Miss football team begins spring practice today looking to continue its climb into the upper echelon.
Hugh Freeze is the first Ole Miss coach to lead his teams to bowl appearances in each of his first three seasons at the helm, and the Rebels have increased their win total each year under him.
The 2014 Rebels won nine games, including four against teams that finished with 10 or more victories. A win against No. 1 Alabama and an Egg Bowl victory against No. 4 Mississippi State highlighted the SEC season.
In February, Ole Miss hauled in its third-straight top-15 rated signing class to ensure that the program keeps trending upward in talent and depth. Five of the signees are enrolled in class and will participate in spring drills.
The Rebels welcome back 58 lettermen and 16 position starters from last season, including nine starters on offense and seven from the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense. Many early predictions have Ole Miss ranked among the top 20 for 2015.
Ole Miss will have to find a replacement at quarterback following the graduation of three-year starter Bo Wallace. Top candidates to replace Wallace include sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade and junior college transfer Chad Kelly, of East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.
At running back, Ole Miss returns three lettermen, including last year’s top two rushers in Jaylen Walton (586 yards) and Jordan Wilkins (361 yards).
Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell will see limited action this spring after breaking his fibula and dislocating his ankle on Nov. 1 against Auburn.
Although former Noxubee County High School standout Vince Sanders has graduated, the Rebels return every other wide receiver who caught at least two passes. Signees DaMarkus Lodge and Van Jefferson will join the team this fall.
Ole Miss returns all five starters and 13 of 14 lettermen from last year’s offensive line.
On defense, the Rebels have five returning lettermen at defensive end and four of six lettermen return at defensive tackle.
Linebacker might be the position at which the Rebels must replace the most production, with the loss of senior starters Serderius Bryant and Deterrian Shackelford and backup Keith Lewis.
In the secondary, two-time All-American free safety Cody Prewitt graduated, but the Rebels return six lettermen and a ton of production at safety/huskie.
At cornerback, unanimous first-team All-American Senquez Golson has departed, while three returning lettermen and adding some impact newcomers.
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