The only school to beat a playoff team in each of the last two regular seasons, Ole Miss enters the 2016 season with high expectations. The Rebels won 10 games and the Sugar Bowl a season ago and were the only team to defeat eventual national champion Alabama.
Ole Miss will be the first opponent for Florida State on what appears to be a very tough slate when the teams meet on Monday night at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The contest is only the second meeting ever between the Seminoles and Rebels. The teams will kick the season off at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.
On Ole Miss
Record (2015): 10-3
Offensive Ranks (2015): 10th in yards per game (518), 10th in passing (334.7), 45th in rushing (183.1), 8th in points per game (40.8)
Defensive Ranks (2015): 54th in yards per game allowed (386), 104th in passing defense (258.8), 23rd in rushing defense (127.1)
Last Game (2015): Beat Oklahoma State in Sugar Bowl, 48-20
On Offense
A prolific Ole Miss offense that averaged nearly 41 points per game a season will have to replace two first round picks in tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Laquan Treadwill, but are still a very dangerous bunch.
Quarterback Chad Kelly is arguably the best quarterback in the SEC and ranked 10th nationally in passing yards a season ago with 4,042 and was tied for ninth with 31 touchdown passes. Though Kelly is known for his arm, he\’s also a guy that can beat defenses with his legs. Kelly rushed for 500 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns in 2015.
The Rebels will have to replace their leading rusher and top two receivers, so Kelly will likely rely on Quincy Adeboyejo and Damore’ea Stringfellow as well as reliable tight end Evan Engram to get the ball to in the passing game. Senior Akeem Judd will likely get the majority of the carries.
The biggest question mark for the Ole Miss offense will likely be up front. Gregory Little isn’t progressing as Ole Miss had hoped and the Rebels will likely start three sophomores on the offensive line. Replacing Tunsil could be Rod Taylor, a junior with only two career starts; both came at guard.
On Defense
The “Landshark” defense looks to have some very solid pieces despite significant attrition, including Robert Nkemdiche, a first round pick. Up front, Marquis Haynes is one of the SEC’s best pass-rushers and former FSU commit D.J. Jones is a load on the inside. Returning linebacker DeMarquis Gates is Ole Miss’ top tackler from 2015 for a defense that was very good against the run.
Ole Miss struggled a bit in the secondary last season, but made up for it by being opportunistic. Ole Miss has a nice mix of youth and talent in the defensive backfield. Kendarius Webster is very good at cornerback while senior safety Tony Conner will be trying to come back from a knee injury after an All-SEC season in 2014.
On Special Teams
Ole Miss is expected to use three different kicking specialists this season. Gary Wunderlich made 76 percent of his field goal attempts a season ago, but doesn’t possess a big leg. Nathan Nobel will likely handle the kickoffs while Will Gleeson retains the punting duties after being one of the nation’s best when it came to net punting last season.
Ole Miss was dismal a season ago when it came to returning both kickoffs and punts.
Summary
Head coach Hugh Freeze, who is 34-18 in his first four years in Oxford, has the Rebels loaded with talent from top to bottom, thanks to four straight top-20 recruiting classes, but entering 2016, the Rebels do have question marks. Chad Kelly has the potential to be a Heisman Trophy finalist at quarterback. Kelly has enough talent around him at the skill positions, but how the offensive front protects him will be key. Defensively, Ole Miss is fast and talented, but with defensive tackles Nkemdiche and Woodrow Hamilton both gone, the Rebels could be vulnerable in the middle.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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