Texags running a column on the woes of Mississippi's team.
Success for Ole Miss in 2023 contingent on redeveloped defense
In his career as a head football coach, Lane Kiffin has a reputation for fielding explosive offenses.
That’s fine. But it’s the implosive defenses that give folks in Oxford cause for concern.
Last year, the Ole Miss Rebels averaged a healthy 33.5 points per game on the way to an 8-5 finish. That’s great.
But in four of its five losses, Ole Miss allowed at least 30 points.
Kiffin figures to have a productive offense again. All-SEC running back Quinshon Judkins returns. So does quarterback Jaxson Dart. So do four starters in the offensive line.
There is some concern with 2022 leading receivers Malik Heath and Jonathan Mingo moving on to the NFL, but Ole Miss seems to always locate capable receivers.
The real concern is on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage.
There, only five starters return from a unit that was a so-so 75th in the nation. That’s despite facing five opponents which were ranked between 93rd and 116th in total offense.
Ole Miss lost whenever it faced a Power 5 opponent with an offensive plus.
The Rebels fell 45-20 to LSU (28th offensively). They lost 30-24 to Alabama (11th), 42-27 to Arkansas (15th), 24-22 to Mississippi State (62nd) and 42-25 to Texas Tech (22nd).
Ole Miss lost defensive end Tavius Robinson to the NFL Draft. Four other starters signed as NFL free agents, and two more left via the transfer portal.
The Rebels are counting on the new arrival of defensive coordinator Pete Golding from Alabama as well as former James Madison defensive end Isaac Ukwu and six other transfer portal additions to bolster the defensive unit.
Ole Miss Rebels
2022 record: 8-5, 4-4
Returning starters
- Offense (8): OL Caleb Warren, OL Micah Pettus, OL Jayden Williams, OL Jeremy James, QB Jaxson Dart, RB Quinshon Judkins, WR Jordan Watkins, TE Michael Trigg
- Defense (5): B Deantre Prince, DE Cedric Johnson, DE Jared Ivey, S Isheem Young, S Ladarius Tennison
Primary Area of Strength: The running game ranked No. 3 in the nation last season. It doesn’t project to decline much, if at all. Running back Quinshon Judkins rushed for 1,565 yards as a true freshman. He could be even better as a sophomore. Quarterback Jaxson Dart can run, too. He gained more than 600 rushing yards in 2022.
Primary Area of Concern: Linebacker play is worrisome. The Rebels are highly dependent on the transfer portal and haven’t landed an impact player there. Ashanti Cistrunk, once a transfer from Louisville, is the top tackler among returning linebackers. Last season, he had 72 tackles with 3.5 resulting in lost yardage. Senior Khari Coleman, once a transfer from TCU, only notched 45 tackles in 2022 but had 4.5 sacks. UCF transfer Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, who had 52 tackles last season, doesn’t figure to be a difference-maker. Maybe Suntarine Perkins, a five-star rated freshman, will be one. Complicating matters, there’s a lack of elite talent on the defensive line to take some pressure off the linebackers.
Significant additions
- LB Suntarine Perkins: The No. 3-ranked linebacker prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. He was ranked No. 23 overall.
- TE Caden Prieskorn: Transfer from Memphis had 48 catches for 602 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022.
- QB Spencer Sanders: A seemingly odd addition with quarterback Jaxson Dart returning. At the very least, Sanders provides depth. Last year at Oklahoma State, he passed for 2,642 yards and rushed for 391.
- DE Isaac Ukwu: A transfer from James Madison, Ukwu had 7.5 sacks and was credited with six quarterback pressures last season.
Significant losses
- G Nick Broeker: The team’s best lineman last season was a seventh-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills.
- DE Tavius Robinson: A fourth-round selection of the Baltimore Ravens, Robinson led Ole Miss with seven sacks.
- CB Miles Battle: Transferred to Utah after a season in which he had an interception, broke up four passes and forced a fumble.
- WR Jonathan Mingo: Second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, Mingo had 51 catches for 861 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.
- WR Malik Heath: Signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers, Heath led Ole Miss with 60 catches and 971 receiving yards last season.
Top Players
- RB Quinshud Judkins: All-SEC selection that led the conference in rushing and touchdowns as a true freshman.
- QB Jaxson Dart: In his first year as a full-time starter, he accumulated 3,588 yards of total offense.
- G Jeremy James: Emerged as a stalwart at right tackle last year. He’s included on some preseason All-SEC lists.
2023 Ole Miss Schedule
- Sept. 2 vs. Mercer
- Sept. 9 at Tulane
- Sept. 16 vs. Georgia Tech
- Sept 23 at Alabama
- Sept. 30 vs. LSU
- Oct. 7 vs. Arkansas
- Oct. 21 at Auburn
- Oct. 28 vs. Vanderbilt
- Nov. 4 vs. Texas A&M
- Nov. 11 at Georgia
- Nov. 18 vs. ULM
- Nov. 23 at Mississippi State