Ole Miss Rebels : Fall Camp Questions

At last the long dark of the off-season is nearing its end. Football is less than one month away, and that means that Fall Camp is getting underway throughout the SEC. The month of August will be absolutely critical in determining how each team fares in September, October, November, and beyond. With that in mind, each team has pressing questions they have to answer before the end of the month. We will continue our series by taking a look at the questions facing Hugh Freeze and the Ole Miss Rebels.

What will the Receiving Corps Look Like?

The Rebels lost both of their top two receivers from last season. Laquon Treadwell was the man with 1153 yards on 82 catches and 11 touchdowns. Cody Core chipped in 644 yards, 37 catches, and four touchdowns of his own. They will both be missed, especially Treadwell, who was an elite talent. However, Hugh Freeze and Chad Kelly still have plenty of tools left in the box.

Quincy Adeboyejo and Damore’ea Stringellow both return this season. They ranked 3rd and 4th on the team in receiving yards respectively. At 6’2″ 220 pounds, Stringfellow has the potential to be a physical mismatch, similar to how Treadwell was simply too strong to be tackled by most corners single-handed. Adeboyejo is leaner, at 6’3″ 195, but he has world-class speed. Also in the conversation are Markell Pack, Damarkus Lodge, Derrick Jones, and Van Jefferson.

Related Story: Markell Pack Injured

Verdict: It’s going to look very good. Stringfellow and Adeboyejo are both proven weapons on the outside. All the Rebels need to do is find someone who can play in the slot. The most likely candidate seems to be former 4-star recruit Damarkus Lodge. Tight end Evan Engram could be a matchup nightmare there as well.

Who will take Tunsil and Nkemdiche’s Spots?

One of the reasons that Ole Miss has been so successful over the last few years is due to their strength along both lines of scrimmage. Unfortunately for them, they lost their best player off each line to the NFL. Laremy Tunsil was a human wall at left tackle. Robert Nkemdiche was an unstoppable force at defensive tackle. So who will replace them for the Rebels this season?

I think most people assumed that Tunsil’s left tackle position would be filled by freshman phenom Greg Little. According to Offensive Line Coach Matt Luke, Little may need some time to develop. Luke said:

"“I think it’s only fair we give (Little) some time to get going. It’s only two days in, and he’s still got to learn the offense and get in shape and all of those things. But I’m pleased so far. He is a big, physical guy. He may be a little more physical in the run game, a better run blocker than Laremy was at this point but maybe not as good in the pass pro(tection) at this point.”"

If Little doesn’t start the next option appears to be redshirt freshman Alex Givens. Givens has been taking snaps with the first team offensive line so far this fall. Also in the mix are fifth-year senior Jeremy Liggins and junior Rod Taylor.

As for defensive tackle, it looks like D.J. Jones is set to be the guy. He started there in the Sugar Bowl while Nkemdiche was suspended and performed well. Sophomore Breeland Speaks will likely play in the other tackle spot.

Verdict: Givens will be the left tackle in the short-term. But he is only keeping the seat warm for Little. Little just has too much raw talent and potential to keep on the bench for very long. D.J. Jones will be the guy at nose tackle this season. He will be solid, even though he lacks the explosiveness of Nkemdiche.

How will the Injured Players Bounce Back?

This offseason the Rebels have five players that are trying to work their way back from surgery. They are: defensive back Tony Conner, defensive tackle Issac Gross, defensive end Fadol Brown, and offensive linemen Rod Taylor and Robert Conyers.

Tony Conner started at Husky, a hybrid safety/linebacker position, before having surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Conner is currently not 100 percent but says he would play against Florida State if the game were today. The Rebels could certainly use Conner’s talent as well as his senior leadership. Let’s hope he comes back strong and earns a high draft pick next spring.

Will Tony Conner be ready to play by September 3rd? Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /

Isaac Gross is a reserve defensive tackle who appears to be 100 percent. He should serve as the primary backup to D.J. Jones at nose tackle. Last season he had to have surgery to repair a disk in his neck.

Starting defensive end Fadol Brown broke his foot last season and only recently returned to practice. His status is one to monitor. If he is unable to play against Florida State, look for senior John Youngblood to fill his spot.

Robert Conyers was the starting center for Ole Miss last season before tearing his ACL against Memphis. He is currently being eased back into practice. Rod Taylor is apparently healthy and is competing for the left tackle job.

Verdict: Taylor and Gross are fine already. Conner has been having knee pain since his sophomore year of high school, which is troubling. The coaches have to be careful not to rush him back before he is ready. Fadol Brown will be ready to go by September 3rd. Even though he might not be quite at 100 percent yet. Robert Conyers is tough to predict. ACL injuries can be tricky to recover from. He just needs to take it one day at a time and not try to do too much too soon.

The Ole Miss Rebels have questions, as do all teams at this stage. How Hugh Freeze answers them will determine how well the Rebels do this season. Let us know how you think he will handle them in the comments. And come back tomorrow to see which questions the South Carolina Gamecocks are currently facing.

Home/Ole Miss Rebels