Evan Ingram runs to start a play at football practice at the University of Mississippi, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014. FILE PHOTO: CADY HERRING
A lot of familiar faces for the Rebels have departed following the 2014 season. Some of these names include quarterback Bo Wallace, safety Cody Prewitt, defensive back Senquez Golson and many more.
These senior leaders will be missed on both sides of the ball, but there is plenty of experience and talent left on the roster to replace the senior leaders that led the Rebels to a great 2014 campaign.
As spring practices got underway this week, some of the returning players talked to the media at the Manning Center team room about the expectations and goals of 2015 spring practices.
One of the returning leaders on the team will be senior C.J. Johnson. Johnson has played defensive end for most of his Ole Miss career, but head coach Hugh Freeze is exploring Johnson at middle linebacker, where he has experience playing at the mike. Johnson totaled 38 tackles and four sacks at the defensive end position last season and looks to continue his success at a different position.
“I wouldn’t say it’s different. The game slows down for me a lot. I pretty much know where everybody on the front is doing,” Johnson said on the difference between playing defensive end and linebacker. “Right now, it’s just getting adjusted to drops and coverages and stuff like that. That’s really about the only problem.”
With the departures of some senior leaders on defense, Johnson steps in as the key leader on the “landshark” defense, especially with the change to middle linebacker. Johnson said that he’s comfortable with being a leader on the defense, but there is still a lot to learn and that he’s trying not to force anything on his fellow teammates.
Johnson also admitted that it’s weird not seeing Golson and Prewitt with him on the defense, but it’s something he has to get used to.
“It feels weird being the oldest person out there and the person that everybody looks up to,” Johnson said. “It’s definitely something that I’m ready to embrace.”
Sophomore tight end Evan Engram was one of the top weapons for former quarterback Bo Wallace last season. Engram reeled in 38 catches for 662 yards and two scores for the 2014 season, but Engram thinks he needs to improve in 2015 in order to be a more complete tight end.
“I’ve been focusing on getting stronger, being able to hold blocks with the defensive ends and linebackers and all the bigger guys,” Engram said. “I’ve been focusing on getting stronger in the weight room, focusing on my hands and my route-running. Just everything that comes with the tight end spot. I want to be more a guy that coach doesn’t pull out on third and short. I want to stay in and see if I can hold my own.”
When asked about the return of junior wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, Engram seemed very excited about his return and added that he looks like his normal self.
“It’s just good to have him around. Having him back in workouts and talking as usual and getting us going,” Engram said. “It’s fun. It’s good to see him back out there and putting a lot of work in in the training room.”
Senior defensive back Mike Hilton is another player that will join Johnson in changing positions. Hilton will make the move to rover safety, where Hilton said rover is more of a coverage skill set type of position and and free safety is more of a in-the-box type of position. Hilton also added that rover is more fitting to his abilities where he can tackle in open space.
When asked about what he wanted to see from his defense this season, he wants the same “landshark” mentality that last seasons’ team had. Hilton thinks that can easily be accomplished.
“It’s really where we picked up from last year; turnovers. It’s constantly hawking and creating turnovers,” Hilton said. “We feel like with our defense, and with our offense coming back and the guys we have on offense, we feel like if we give them a short field, they can make something happen.”
