The Daily Mississippian’s sports editor, Dylan Rubino and Ole Miss football beat writer, Cody Thomason answer four burning questions about the Rebels’ season-opener against Boise State.
What matchup are you most looking forward to when Ole Miss plays Boise State?
Dylan- I’m looking forward to the matchup between the Rebel defensive line and the Boise offensive line. The pass rush for the Rebels should return to form with junior C.J. Johnson coming back from ankle surgery and the emergence of sophomore Robert Nkemdiche. Redshirt sophomore Fadol Brown will play a big role on the defensive line alongside the quicker Johnson. The Boise State offensive line only returns one starter, so the pass rush will have many chances to make a play in the backfield.
Cody- I’m looking forward to how the Ole Miss receiving core matches up against the Broncos secondary. Ole Miss features a tall group with sophomores Laquon Treadwell, Quincy Adeboyejo and tight end Evan Engram all standing over 6-foot-2 and senior wideout Vince Sanders standing at 6-foot-1. In comparison, Boise State’s starting two starting corners are both listed at 5’9″. Look for the Rebels to try and exploit this height advantage, especially in the red zone.
Do you think quarterback Bo Wallace will live up to the preseason hype and deliver in the Georgia Dome?
Dylan- I think we’ll see a different Bo this season. Wallace is back to full strength this season and his throwing motion should be improved with off season training to fix his motion. As sophomore wide receiver Laquon Treadwell said Boise’s cornerbacks are “small”. Wallace should have a big day throwing to his tall receivers on the outside and should live up to the hype as one of the top quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference.
Cody- This season offers the first real look at what a healthy Bo Wallace can do. With his lingering shoulder issues hopefully behind him, Wallace should be able to unleash his full array of throws and connect with his wide receivers on deep routes more often. If Wallace can cut down his turnovers, he can have a very productive year in a conference with few other returning passers.
How will Ole Miss fare against Broncos star running back Jay Ajayi?
Dylan- The Rebel defense will need to stack the box against Ajayi and hope to contain him. Secondary members such as senior Cody Prewitt, sophomore Tony Conner, and senior Senquez Golson will have to step in near the box to help the front seven with containing Ajayi. Ajayi is the perfect combination at running back with size to run through the gaps and speed to hit the corners on the outside. The Rebels struggled last season playing against great rushing attacks last season, especially against Alabama and Auburn. Hopefully things change this year.
Cody- A junior, Ajayi is coming off of a stellar sophomore campaign in which he racked up 1,425 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing. At 6-foot-0, 200 pounds, Ajayi packs a punch but also has the speed and agility to break it to the outside. His combination of size and speed makes him a nightmare to an undersized Ole Miss defense. Ole Miss will need a big game from the defensive line and the linebackers if they hope to contain Ajayi.
Which player do you expect to have a breakout game against Boise State?
Dylan- Sophomore Robert Nkemdiche is poised to have a breakout game against Boise State. Nkemdiche came into camp at 280 pounds, lighter than he came into camp last season, and added more muscle to his athletic frame. During fall camp, his teammates and coaches have praised him for adding more moves to his pass rushing skills and for being more mature and dedicated to learning the playbook. Robert will be ready for Boise State and will have a huge game against the Bronco offensive line, which only returns one starter.
Cody- I expect tight end Evan Engram to have a breakout game in week one. Engram showed flashes of his potential early on in the 2013 season as a true freshman, but after a high ankle sprain ended his regular season the hype surrounding him died down. Engram enters the season healthy and stronger than ever, so there’s no reason he can’t surpass his already impressive freshman season with a better sophomore campaign. Look for him to get the season off to a good start Thursday.
