Mississippi head coach Hugh Freeze celebrates during the Chick-fil-A trophy celebration after the first game last season in Atlanta. (File Photo/Cady Herring)
In week three of spring practice for Ole Miss football, injuries have provided some tough challenges for the team to work through, with sophomore wide receiver Markell Pack and senior wide receiver Cody Core recently getting hurt.
“We’re struggling just to stay healthy,” head coach Hugh Freeze said. “We’re losing kids to some freak injuries that will certainly make reps more difficult, but that’s part of the game.”
The offensive line has also been struck by the injury bug, with only eight linemen going in practice.
“Offensive line, I think we’re down to about eight guys right now and it’s a struggle. Doesn’t look like we’re going to get any of those back for spring,” head coach Hugh Freeze said, listing injuries for junior Laremy Tunsil, senior Aaron Morris, sophomore Daronte Bouldin, junior Robert Conyers, sophomore Christian Morris, junior Talbot Buys, sophomore Davion Johnson and freshman Sean Rawlings.
“We’re trying to get some quality work but (the injuries) certainly make it more challenging.”
Freeze said the injuries to the offensive line have complicated the evaluations of the quarterback position, which is one of the hottest position battles of the spring.
“It’s made it difficult. When (the defense) is who they want to be it’s been quite challenging to have successful plays for sure,” Freeze said.
The competition is between redshirt sophomores DeVante Kincade and Ryan Buchanan and junior college transfer Chad Kelly. Buchanan gave his thoughts on the injuries to the offensive line affecting play.
“It’s tough, but guys that are younger and guys that are new are trying to step up and you’re never going to get better if you don’t get thrown into that situation,” Buchanan said.
With the result of the depleted offensive line, the quarterback position won’t be decided in the spring and the starting signal caller will not be named until fall practice.
“We’re charting every throw and it’s really close between all three. It kind of depends on the day,” Freeze said. “Ryan (Buchanan) has had his great days, (DeVante) Kincade’s done well at times and so has Chad (Kelly).”
Freeze went on to talk about what he wants to see from his signal callers the rest of spring camp and leading into the start of the 2015 season.
“We’re searching for some consistency among all three of them. Dan (Werner) and I just have to continue to coach them and try to make solid plays on every snap that we get. It’s been a very physical spring for us so far,” Freeze said. “I’m hoping Saturdays, when we get to there, we’ll have enough healthy guys to have a quality scrimmage and see if we’ve made some significant improvements, cause we’ve been spending an enormous amount of time on technique and individual work.”
Freeze said he was very pleased with how the defense has performed in the spring, highlighting junior college transfer Tony Bridges along with other members of the secondary.
“He’s a long athletic corner that’s physical, he and Tee Shepard both, and they’re playing really well at corner right now,” Freeze said. “A little too aggressive sometimes, particularly when they’re on an island, but they’re very aggressive and long.”
He went into further detail about the depth of the cornerback position, which he seemed pleased with.
“We rotate them every day. I think Kailo Moore is coming along, and so has (Kendarius) Webster,” Freeze said. “I think both of those guys are quality corners too and I think they rotate ones and twos. I feel like they’re all quality players.”
