With the departure of Laremy Tunsil, Robert Nkemdiche and Laquon Treadwell to the NFL, the Rebels lost a few of the key members of the 2013 class that brought Hugh Freeze’s football team into the limelight. As those players’ impressive careers came to an end, Freeze was able to bring in a new class that he thinks might be even better.
“I love what I see,” Freeze said. “It’s a learning curve. We’re splitting practices. The young kids are getting eight periods by themselves where I’ll teach, and in the first two days I really like what I’ve seen from those young guys. They’re good kids, and they’re obviously talented, but I think this could be our best class from just two days of being out there.
“We’ve had some good classes, but I really think from top to bottom this 2016 class looks, after two days, for whatever that’s worth, I haven’t been disappointed,” Freeze continued.
Freeze also expressed excitement for new linebackers Rommel Mageo, who transferred from Oregon State, and junior college transfer Detric Bing-Dukes
“Quick learner, have to run him out of the building,” Freeze said of Mageo. “He’s a football junkie. I love that about him, and I am anxious to get pads on and see how he does. I didn’t see many mistakes that he made yesterday, and it’s brand new to him.”
“Same thing for (Detric) Bing-Dukes, I think both are very similar,” Freeze continued. “They want to learn. They want to know what to do. It’s still early, but they moved fine. I think we’ve got two guys there that are going to help us.”
While fall camp is only just beginning for the Rebels, a few players had caught Freeze’s eye early in the practices.
“(Freshman safety) Myles Hartsfield has had flashes as have some of the redshirt guys, (defensive back) Montrell Custis and (running back) Eric Swinney and (defensive back) Armani (Linton). All those guys we’re depending on to see, but it’s way too early for me to say these new guys are definite,” Freeze said of the potential contributors.
“I like all the O-linemen that we signed,” Freeze continued. “I think they’ve got potential to be really good players, but it is a development time that most will have to have. Some will have to be quicker than others because of needs.”
Freeze also pointed out the boost offensive lineman Robert Conyers provided being back and the leadership role he filled. Additionally, Freeze gave an update on offensive tackle Jeremy Liggins, who was previously in a battle for the top spot on the left side but it not currently practicing with the team.
“Jeremy is being withheld from camp for a violation of team standards, and we’re working with him to get him back out there as soon as we can,” Freeze said.
“Right now we’re playing (redshirt freshman) Alex (Givens), (junior) Rod Taylor and (freshman) Greg Little at left tackle, and I kind of like all three of them,” Freeze said. “I think they all have potential to be good players. We obviously want Jeremy to be back quickly and then get in the swing of things, but to just provide even more depth and competition there.”
Freeze broke down Little’s chance to see significant time at left tackle as a true freshman.
“With him coming in and getting in shape like they do in the summer, it’s really how much they contain of the knowledge of how to play that position,” Freeze said. “We obviously think he’s super athletic. As all freshmen, he could stand to be stronger, and (strength and condition coach) Paul (Jackson) will get him there no doubt in time. We do think he’s a really good future left tackle. When that takes place is hard to say. But he wants to do it, and he learns and he studies, so I think the learning curve, he’ll handle that well.”
If the Rebels are going to have a successful season, they will need some of the aforementioned young players to acclimate quickly, as the Rebels are thrown right into one of the toughest schedules in the nation, with games against Florida State, Georgia and Alabama early on.
“I’ve never been on a staff that faced a September quite like what we’re facing,” Freeze said. “It’s not hard to motivate our kids. They understand what’s in front of them, so that’s a positive. The negative is you’re playing some very difficult teams, and you can be a top-15 team and you’re going to be in some battles right away, and you’re not sure how they’ll go.”
“It is a very difficult schedule, and I don’t discount even playing Wofford on week two on a short week,” Freeze said. “They play on a Thursday night, and they have a long week to get ready for us, and we’re going to get back early Tuesday morning and get ready to play an offense that’s not the easiest to defend. I think the entire month of September is a challenging one.”
