Injuries have devastated Ole Miss’ secondary throughout the first four games of this season.
Junior Jaylon Jones suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the Rebels’ season opener against Texas Tech — a game in which he also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Two weeks later, junior Montrell Custis suffered the same injury, which will sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Ole Miss defense attempts to take down Alabama running back Najee Harris during the game against Alabama. Photo by Christian Johnson
Luckily for the Rebels, they have a secondary filled with experienced upperclassmen that can step up in their places. Defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff and co-defensive coordinator Jason Jones have shuffled guys around to different positions to make up for these injury losses.
“We have about three or four guys who are smart enough (that) we can shuffle them around,” Jones said. “They will learn and not miss a beat.”
Zedrick Woods, a 5-foot-11 senior from Lake City, Florida, is a guy the coaches are expecting to be a difference-maker, moving forward. He’s had a solid season so far, with 27 tackles throughout four games and an interception during the Kent State game.
“(Woods) can fill in at any position back there,” Jones said. “He’s worked at nickel, strong safety (and) free safety.”
Myles Hartsfield is another guy whom the coaches believe can be a factor at multiple positions in the secondary. Hartsfield hasn’t been as productive as Woods has so far this season, but his two interceptions last year show that he has the ability to find the ball.
“Myles is working at corner, and he’s also working at our (nickel) position,” Jones said.
Defensive back C.J. Moore and Benito Jones take down Alabama running back Damien Harris. Photo by Christian Johnson
Along with Woods and Hartsfield, senior Javien Hamilton has also been tasked with playing at multiple positions. Hamilton, like Hartsfield, doesn’t have mind-blowing stats so far in 2018, with just eight total tackles through four games. However, his three picks last year tied for the team lead, and coaches are hoping to see more of that from him.
“(Hamilton) is also working corner and at the nickel position,” Jones said. “All three of those guys (Woods, Hartsfield and Hamilton) have a high football IQ and play with good instincts.”
Ole Miss is expecting to get senior Ken Webster back this week from a hamstring injury that had him out of the last two games. His return should give the Rebel secondary some much-needed depth for the team’s trip to Baton Rouge.
“You have to be a student of the game, and those guys put a lot of time into studying tape and watching tape,” Jones said. “Some guys are able to do it, and some aren’t. Being around them and being with them for a period of time, you can usually tell which ones can handle multiple positions and which ones probably need to focus on just one.”
