Only two months have passed since Ole Miss closed out their season with a 48-20 Sugar Bowl victory, but as the Rebels get further into spring practice, it’s clear there will be some big changes in this year’s team.
Record-breaking quarterback Chad Kelly returns for his senior season with the Rebels, but gone are former five-star prospects and future first round draft pics Laremy Tunsil, Laquon Treadwell and Robert Nkemdiche.
Last month, the Rebels brought in the fifth-ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to Scout.com, and several players from that class are already enrolled and participating in spring practice.
The biggest miss for the Rebels on signing day, however, was at the linebacker position; they graduated three linebackers and were unable to reel in several of their top targets.
Head coach Hugh Freeze was able to add some late additions to the class that will add much needed depth to the linebacking corps.
“Yesterday we got Rommel Mageo from Oregon State. He’s going to be a graduate transfer,” Freeze said. “Today we signed Detric Bing-Dukes out of Iowa Western, a Georgia transfer. We’re really excited about that those two additions for us.”
Coach Hugh Freeze talks to the media during a press conference on Thursday. (Photo by: Cameron Brooks)
Mageo led Oregon State in tackles last season; Bing-Dukes was on his way to Middle Tennessee State, but after staying in junior college to complete the credits he needed for transfer, he was persuaded by Ole Miss to join the Rebels.
“I expect Rommel and Detric to come in and compete right away for the mike-linebacker spot,” Freeze said. “Rommel, we obviously are getting a guy that’s a veteran, a guy that’s played three years of major college football in a power five conference. That guy plays hard, plays physical. He’s got the stats. We feel like he may be the guy. I don’t know that for sure. He’s got to come in and earn it like everyone else, and you guys know that’s a place we need help.”
Freeze was open to adding even more players to the class.
“Recruiting never ends, as you know. So we’re constantly looking,” Freeze said. “We’ve got a couple of other guys that we’re looking at.”
There’s also a competition to see who will be the punt and kick returner next season.
“(Redshirt freshman cornerback) Jalen Julius has a really good shot at doing some of that, (senior corner) Tony Bridges, (senior corner) Carlos Davis and (junior receiver) Markell Pack were the four that were back there,” Freeze said. “We signed (receiver) Tre Nixon who I really think is phenomenal at some of that.”
The biggest place Freeze wanted to improve on was, once again, the offensive line.
“It seems that’s probably going to constantly be a question mark year to year,” Freeze said. “If you look nationally, I think that is probably the hardest position to make sure, if you’re good at that spot, you’ve got a really good chance.”
Freeze said he felt, with the talent level in the SEC, either team would have a chance at winning every game. He said he thought one area in particular could give his team a big boost in these games next season.
“One of the deciding factors when you take out all the turnovers and deciding factors is chemistry,” Freeze said. “That’s one of the great things about spring ball. I believe it can help start laying the foundation of who your team is going be.”
– Cody Thomason
