HOOVER, Ala. – C.J. Johnson isn’t lacking for confidence.
Especially not with this group of Ole Miss Rebels.
“A national championship,” said the senior linebacker when asked what were the realistic expectations for the team. “This is the first time since Coach (Hugh) Freeze has been here that he’s addressed the whole team as a whole about winning a national championship.”
Like Johnson, many of his teammates believe a push can be made for the national championship this season. They gained confidence in 2014.
The Rebels are coming off one of the best years in recent history. In Freeze’s third year as coach, Ole Miss managed an overall record of 9-4 and a Southeastern Conference mark of 5-3.
The season started off with seven-straight wins, including an upset of No. 1 Alabama, which earned the Rebels an ESPY Wednesday night.
“We know what success tastes like coming out 7-0, but we’re ready to take that next step and hopefully get to the SEC Championship and National Championship. We just have to make sure we play every game like it’s our last and hopefully we stay injury-free,” said senior defensive back Mike Hilton, who won the Chucky Mullins Courage Award. “I feel like that (the injuries) sunk us a little, but with the guys we have this year and the depth we have this year, we can do something special.”
The season didn’t finish the way it started, as Ole Miss lost four of the final six games, including a 42-3 blowout at the hands of TCU in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
This spring was about moving on and finding a new theme for not only the upcoming season, but the program.
“Our theme this spring was chasing greatness,” Freeze said. “I think our young men that we coach these days, they’re not sure what that means or what that looks like. But as a leader, I have to look at myself first and what does chasing greatness look like to me. The first thing that I think jumps out is I get to set the core values of our program. We believe strongly in who we are, that our core values are faith and attitude and mental toughness and integrity and love.”
The season ended early for one Rebel. Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell broke his leg after being tackled at the goal line in a loss to Auburn last year. The recovery time was good for the junior wideout, as he used it to slim up a little bit.
“All signs point to him being fully recovered,” Freeze said. “He even looks a little different. I think he lost a little weight, feels a little more explosive.
“I’m anxious to get pads on him and see how he responds when the ball’s a little high and in traffic. The kid is extremely determined to make a full recovery, and I think he has so we’re excited.”
In just nine games, Treadwell caught a team-high 48 catches for 632 yards. He was also second on the team with five touchdown receptions.
Treadwell will have a new quarterback throwing him the ball this season. After winning a national championship at East Mississippi Community College, Bo Wallace quarterbacked the Rebels for three seasons.
Another former Lion has transferred to Oxford. Chad Kelly, who played at Clemson, will be competing with Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade for the starting job under center this fall.
“I don’t think there’s a fair sampling yet for any of the three. And that’s why I have not put – I won’t put myself in a box on when that decision will be made. I think all three have earned the right to compete for it,” said Freeze.
Kelly passed for 3,906 yards and 47 touchdowns in Scooba, but he had an off the field incident that led to an arrest in Buffalo, New York. Many have questioned Ole Miss sticking with Kelly, but his teammates have seen a different person this spring and summer.
“He’s making smart decisions. Off the field or on the field,” said junior tight end Evan Engram. “Any free time he has, he’s in the IPF (rehab facility) getting better, just focusing on his craft. He’s making good decisions. He’s staying out of trouble, staying away from possible things that could get him in trouble.
“He’s made a good turnaround in terms of becoming a good leader and built a lot of chemistry with us as an offense and a team.”
Kelly is the not the only Rebel with off the field troubles to arise this offseason. Offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil was involved in a fight with his step father, bringing to light that Tunsil was meeting with an agent.
There are possible NCAA violations, but nothing has come of it.
“There’s very little to report,” Freeze said. “We obviously will cooperate fully with, whether it’s the NCAA process or the law enforcement process, we will cooperate fully with that.
“I’m very confident, like I said, in the way we do things and what we can control. I’m very confident in the person that Laremy Tunsil is too, and we look forward to that coming to a conclusion at whatever time is appropriate.”
Ben Wait is a sports writer for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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