Ole Miss Rebels- Quick Look from ESPN
The following article was published on ESPN by Chris Low.
Today, we take a look at what should be the strongest and weakest positions for Ole Miss entering the 2010 season:
Strongest position: Defensive line
Key returnees: Kentrell Lockett, Jerrell Powe, Ted Laurent, Lawon Scott, LaMark Armour, Justin Smith
Key departures: Marcus Tillman, Greg Hardy, Emmanuel Stephens
The skinny: If junior college newcomer Wayne Dorsey is as good as the Rebels think he is, then they have a chance to be even better than they were last season in the defensive line. The 6-6, 255-pound Dorsey will step in at the end opposite Lockett and has all the tools to be a dominant pass-rusher. There’s not much proven depth behind him at end, but Ole Miss will again be one of the deepest teams in the country at tackle.
Powe returns as one of best interior linemen in the league. Lockett and Powe combined for 22 tackles for loss last season, including eight sacks. The good news for the Rebels is that they have enough quality interior defensive linemen that they should always have a fresh guy in the game. You win with muscle up front in the SEC, and the Rebels have plenty of it.
Weakest position: Quarterback
Key returnees: Nathan Stanley, Raymond Cotton
Key departures: Jevan Snead
The skinny: The silver lining to Snead’s disappointing season last year was that he would at least have his senior season to put everything together. He was brilliant as a sophomore, but threw an SEC-high 20 interceptions last season as a junior.
But after the season, he surprised most people by announcing he was turning pro, which leaves sophomore Nathan Stanley and redshirt freshman Raymond Cotton to duke it out for the starting job this spring. Neither has any meaningful experience, and Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said this week that getting them ready to play in the SEC next season would be the biggest challenge of their coaching careers.
Stanley has at least played some in a mop-up role and probably has the advantage, but Nutt said it would be an open competition. When junior college transfer Randall Mackey arrives this May, he will also get a shot. Mackey is more of an athlete and should fit nicely into the Wild Rebel package.
SEC Sports Report is sponsored by Jay Holgate's Talking SEC Football.
More from Ole Miss Rebels
Through the end of July, here are the verbal commits for 2012:
1) LSU Tigers 18
2) Alabama Crimson Tide 14
3) Miss State Bulldogs 14
4) Auburn Tigers 13
5) Arkansas Razorbacks 12
6) Ole Miss Rebels 8
For more information, get mobile news through the "SEC Football News" APP available for Iphone and Android phones.
ESPN
ALABAMA
Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, S: Alabama boasts one of the best safety tandems in the league in Mark Barron and Robert Lester, but the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Clinton-Dix has the size and skill set to come in and make the Crimson Tide even stronger on the back end of their defense.
Cyrus Kouandjio, OT: One of the top offensive tackle prospects in the country last year, Kouandjio could provide some immediate depth. The Tide were already looking at moving All-SEC guard Barrett Jones to left tackle.
LSU
Jarvis Landry, WR: If the Tigers are going to make a run at a national championship in 2011, they’re going to need a lot more production from their passing game than they got a year ago. Landry is dynamic in the open field and should complement Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard nicely.
PRESS REGISTER- For the second straight year, Ole Miss could hand its offense to a refugee from another program. Sophomore Barry Brunetti, a transfer from West Virginia, emerged from the spring as a top contender to replace Jeremiah Masoli at quarterback for the Rebels.
CLARION-LEDGER- Jesse Grandy, a wide receiver/kick returner who was said to have departed the Ole Miss football team back in February, is enrolled in summer classes at the school and may be on track to return to the roster this fall, coach Houston Nutt told The Clarion-Ledger today.
ESPN- There are four SEC schools that still haven't locked down a starting QB for the 2011 season. This articles looks at the battles going on for Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and Florida....
Click on web link for full espn story
Developing
Best SEC Football APP
Jay Holgate's Life Coaching--Everybody Does Better with a Coach
Goals, Wisdom and Resources to help you go to the next level.
Let Jay Speak at Your Next Event
Subscribe
Registration
Our SEC Fan Base