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This is the seventh of a series previewing LSU's eight Southeastern Conference opponents during the 2015 season.
For Ole Miss, the 2014 season was special even though it ended with an embarrassing 42-3 loss to TCU in the Peach Bowl.
The Rebels won nine games for the first time since 2009 and for just the third time in the past ten years. Ole Miss has never won more than nine games in that stretch. The Rebels also won five SEC games for the first time since 2008 and for just the second time in the last ten seasons.
In his first three years as Ole Miss coach, Hugh Freeze has taken the school to three bowl games. In addition, the Rebels have increased their victory total by one each season. There are 18 returning starters, including both specialists. So, one would think that Ole Miss has great expectations.
The talent is certainly there with three potential first-round NFL draft picks next spring - wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche. But, Freeze is somewhat downplaying his team's prospects.
First, Treadwell is recovering from a serious leg injury. Second, Tunsil is dealing with some off-the-field matters. Freeze is now witnessing what can happen to slow a program trying to reach championship level.
"Our theme back in the spring was chasing greatness," Freeze said. "I get to set the core values of our program. We believe strongly in who we are. Our core values are faith, attitude, mental toughness, integrity and love. We model that daily with our young men.
"I don't know if college coaches are helping the players navigate life. I'll be the first to tell you that I don't enjoy it. But, I've got an opportunity to somehow make a difference in the outcome of a kid's life whether by discipline, by sending him on his way to learn a different lesson or by restoration."
Of course, Freeze knows that he will ultimately be judged by how many football games his Rebels team wins. A 7-0 start turned into a 2-4 finish in 2014. There were close losses to LSU and Auburn and blowout defeats by Arkansas and TCU. Ole Miss was outscored 72-3 by the Hogs and the Horned Frogs.
"We know what success tastes like after coming out 7-0," senior safety Mike Hilton said. "But, we're ready to take that next step and hopefully get to the SEC championship game. We just have to make sure we play every game like it's our last.
"Hopefully, we stay injury-free. I feel that the injuries sunk us a little last year. But, with the guys we have this year and the depth we have this year, we can do something special."
The Ole Miss defense presented a problem for most offenses in 2014. The opposition averaged 329 yards and 16 points per game. Only three teams scored more than 20 points - Auburn (35), Arkansas (30) and TCU (42). All of those games were defeats in the second half of the season.
The Rebels should be strong again on defense with seven returning starters, led by Hilton (71 tackles, 7 pass breakups, 3 interceptions). The versatile Hilton will move to safety this year.
"Mike is very valuable to us as a leader," Freeze said. "He's our Chucky Mullins Award winner this year. He has played a lot of different positions for us. He understands the back end of our defense very well. The fact that he can move around makes him invaluable to us."
Of course, Robert Nkemdiche is the player upon whom NFL scouts focus. Nkemdiche made just 35 tackles a year ago. The most productive returning defensive lineman is end Marquis Haynes, who had eight quarterback-hurries and 7½ sacks.
Seniors C.J. Johnson and Denzel Nkemdiche are solid linebackers. Nickel back Tony Conner forms an impressive duo with Hilton in the secondary. Ole Miss should have a solid defense once again.
"We just need to repeat what we've done on defense and try to find a way to get a little better at some areas," Freeze said. "We were a very good defense last year. With the front we have returning and the replacements we have for a few key losses, we should repeat that."
The Rebels return nine starters on offense, but there's that one huge questionable area - quarterback. DeVante Kincade and Ryan Buchanan threw a combined 42 passes as backups to Bo Wallace last season. Chad Kelly, who led East Mississippi to the junior college national title, is expected to win the job.
Kelly passed for more than 3,900 yards and 47 touchdowns a season ago. However, Kelly does have some baggage. He was dismissed from Clemson following the spring practice after his freshman season. Kelly participated in five games as a freshman. He also was arrested last December.
"Chad Kelly has been making smart decisions off the field," junior tight end Evan Engram said. "He's staying out of trouble. He's staying away from things which could get him into trouble. Chad has made a good turnaround in terms of becoming a leader and building a lot of chemistry with us.
"Chad really has a strong arm. Last year, we really didn't have a consistent deep ball threat. He really knows how to throw deep balls. He knows how to look for them pre-snap and he's real big on making that big play. He can bring that aspect to the game this year."
The Rebels need to have a more effective running game. The top two rushers - Jaylen Walton and Jordan Wilkins - are both back. However, they combined for slightly more than 900 rushing yards. Both backs did have healthy yard-per-carry average - 5.5 for Walton and 6.9 for Wilkins.
Treadwell, if healthy, and Cody Core form a potent one-two receiving punch. Treadwell and Core combined for 89 catches and nearly 1,200 yards with 11 touchdowns last season.
"Laquan looks very good," Engram said. "He's back at full tilt working on his craft at receiver. Honestly, he looks bigger, stronger and faster than he did before he got hurt last year. I'm looking forward to him having a big year."
All five starters on the offensive line are back - a group which includes four seniors and Tunsil. Rebels fans can only hope that the off-the-field issues won't sideline Tunsil.
"We need to be a model of efficient offensive football," Freeze said. "We've looked very hard at the deficiencies we had last year. We are excited about the return of so many talented kids. Hopefully, we can stay healthy and get quarterbacks who can take care of the football and manage us."
LSU VS. OLE MISS
SATURDAY, NOV. 21 - VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY STADIUM IN OXFORD
OLE MISS FAST FACTS
HEAD COACH: Hugh Freeze (three years at Ole Miss, 24-15)
2015 RECORD: 9-4 overall (lost to TCU in the Peach Bowl), 5-3 in the SEC (3rd in the West)
RETURNING STARTERS: 18 (9 on offense, 7 on defense, 2 specialists)
ALL-SEC CANDIDATES: WR Laquon Treadwell (Jr.), TE Evan Engram (Jr.), OT Laremy Tunsil (Jr.), DT Robert Nkemdiche (Jr.), NB Tony Conner (Jr.), G Aaron Morris (Sr.), LB Denzel Nkemdiche (Sr.), LB CJ Johnson (Sr.), P Will Gleeson (So.), DE Marquis Haynes (So.), PR Markell Pack (So.).
RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS
OFFENSE
QB DeVante Kincade (So.): 20 pass attempts, 16 completions, 80 percent, 127 yards, 1 touchdown
RB Jaylen Walton (Sr.): 106 carries, 586 yards, 5 touchdowns
WR Laquon Treadwell: 48 catches, 632 yards, 5 touchdowns
DEFENSE
CB Mike Hilton (Sr.): 71 tackles, 7 pass breakups, 3 interceptions
DE Marquis Haynes: 7½ sacks, 8 quarterback-hurries
NB Tony Conner: 8 tackles-for-loss
SPECIAL TEAMS
P Will Gleeson: 58 punts, 42.9-yard average, 24 inside the 20-yard line
K Gary Wunderlich (So.): 6-of-8 FGs, 20-of-20 XPs
PR Markell Pack: 18 punt returns, 96 yards
KR Jaylen Walton: 18 kickoff returns, 384 yards
This is the seventh of a series previewing LSU's eight Southeastern Conference opponents during the 2015 season.
For Ole Miss, the 2014 season was special even though it ended with an embarrassing 42-3 loss to TCU in the Peach Bowl.
The Rebels won nine games for the first time since 2009 and for just the third time in the past ten years. Ole Miss has never won more than nine games in that stretch. The Rebels also won five SEC games for the first time since 2008 and for just the second time in the last ten seasons.
In his first three years as Ole Miss coach, Hugh Freeze has taken the school to three bowl games. In addition, the Rebels have increased their victory total by one each season. There are 18 returning starters, including both specialists. So, one would think that Ole Miss has great expectations.
The talent is certainly there with three potential first-round NFL draft picks next spring - wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche. But, Freeze is somewhat downplaying his team's prospects.
First, Treadwell is recovering from a serious leg injury. Second, Tunsil is dealing with some off-the-field matters. Freeze is now witnessing what can happen to slow a program trying to reach championship level.
"Our theme back in the spring was chasing greatness," Freeze said. "I get to set the core values of our program. We believe strongly in who we are. Our core values are faith, attitude, mental toughness, integrity and love. We model that daily with our young men.
"I don't know if college coaches are helping the players navigate life. I'll be the first to tell you that I don't enjoy it. But, I've got an opportunity to somehow make a difference in the outcome of a kid's life whether by discipline, by sending him on his way to learn a different lesson or by restoration."
Of course, Freeze knows that he will ultimately be judged by how many football games his Rebels team wins. A 7-0 start turned into a 2-4 finish in 2014. There were close losses to LSU and Auburn and blowout defeats by Arkansas and TCU. Ole Miss was outscored 72-3 by the Hogs and the Horned Frogs.
"We know what success tastes like after coming out 7-0," senior safety Mike Hilton said. "But, we're ready to take that next step and hopefully get to the SEC championship game. We just have to make sure we play every game like it's our last.
"Hopefully, we stay injury-free. I feel that the injuries sunk us a little last year. But, with the guys we have this year and the depth we have this year, we can do something special."
The Ole Miss defense presented a problem for most offenses in 2014. The opposition averaged 329 yards and 16 points per game. Only three teams scored more than 20 points - Auburn (35), Arkansas (30) and TCU (42). All of those games were defeats in the second half of the season.
The Rebels should be strong again on defense with seven returning starters, led by Hilton (71 tackles, 7 pass breakups, 3 interceptions). The versatile Hilton will move to safety this year.
"Mike is very valuable to us as a leader," Freeze said. "He's our Chucky Mullins Award winner this year. He has played a lot of different positions for us. He understands the back end of our defense very well. The fact that he can move around makes him invaluable to us."
Of course, Robert Nkemdiche is the player upon whom NFL scouts focus. Nkemdiche made just 35 tackles a year ago. The most productive returning defensive lineman is end Marquis Haynes, who had eight quarterback-hurries and 7½ sacks.
Seniors C.J. Johnson and Denzel Nkemdiche are solid linebackers. Nickel back Tony Conner forms an impressive duo with Hilton in the secondary. Ole Miss should have a solid defense once again.
"We just need to repeat what we've done on defense and try to find a way to get a little better at some areas," Freeze said. "We were a very good defense last year. With the front we have returning and the replacements we have for a few key losses, we should repeat that."
The Rebels return nine starters on offense, but there's that one huge questionable area - quarterback. DeVante Kincade and Ryan Buchanan threw a combined 42 passes as backups to Bo Wallace last season. Chad Kelly, who led East Mississippi to the junior college national title, is expected to win the job.
Kelly passed for more than 3,900 yards and 47 touchdowns a season ago. However, Kelly does have some baggage. He was dismissed from Clemson following the spring practice after his freshman season. Kelly participated in five games as a freshman. He also was arrested last December.
"Chad Kelly has been making smart decisions off the field," junior tight end Evan Engram said. "He's staying out of trouble. He's staying away from things which could get him into trouble. Chad has made a good turnaround in terms of becoming a leader and building a lot of chemistry with us.
"Chad really has a strong arm. Last year, we really didn't have a consistent deep ball threat. He really knows how to throw deep balls. He knows how to look for them pre-snap and he's real big on making that big play. He can bring that aspect to the game this year."
The Rebels need to have a more effective running game. The top two rushers - Jaylen Walton and Jordan Wilkins - are both back. However, they combined for slightly more than 900 rushing yards. Both backs did have healthy yard-per-carry average - 5.5 for Walton and 6.9 for Wilkins.
Treadwell, if healthy, and Cody Core form a potent one-two receiving punch. Treadwell and Core combined for 89 catches and nearly 1,200 yards with 11 touchdowns last season.
"Laquan looks very good," Engram said. "He's back at full tilt working on his craft at receiver. Honestly, he looks bigger, stronger and faster than he did before he got hurt last year. I'm looking forward to him having a big year."
All five starters on the offensive line are back - a group which includes four seniors and Tunsil. Rebels fans can only hope that the off-the-field issues won't sideline Tunsil.
"We need to be a model of efficient offensive football," Freeze said. "We've looked very hard at the deficiencies we had last year. We are excited about the return of so many talented kids. Hopefully, we can stay healthy and get quarterbacks who can take care of the football and manage us."
LSU VS. OLE MISS
SATURDAY, NOV. 21 - VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY STADIUM IN OXFORD
OLE MISS FAST FACTS
HEAD COACH: Hugh Freeze (three years at Ole Miss, 24-15)
2015 RECORD: 9-4 overall (lost to TCU in the Peach Bowl), 5-3 in the SEC (3rd in the West)
RETURNING STARTERS: 18 (9 on offense, 7 on defense, 2 specialists)
ALL-SEC CANDIDATES: WR Laquon Treadwell (Jr.), TE Evan Engram (Jr.), OT Laremy Tunsil (Jr.), DT Robert Nkemdiche (Jr.), NB Tony Conner (Jr.), G Aaron Morris (Sr.), LB Denzel Nkemdiche (Sr.), LB CJ Johnson (Sr.), P Will Gleeson (So.), DE Marquis Haynes (So.), PR Markell Pack (So.).
RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS
OFFENSE
QB DeVante Kincade (So.): 20 pass attempts, 16 completions, 80 percent, 127 yards, 1 touchdown
RB Jaylen Walton (Sr.): 106 carries, 586 yards, 5 touchdowns
WR Laquon Treadwell: 48 catches, 632 yards, 5 touchdowns
DEFENSE
CB Mike Hilton (Sr.): 71 tackles, 7 pass breakups, 3 interceptions
DE Marquis Haynes: 7½ sacks, 8 quarterback-hurries
NB Tony Conner: 8 tackles-for-loss
SPECIAL TEAMS
P Will Gleeson: 58 punts, 42.9-yard average, 24 inside the 20-yard line
K Gary Wunderlich (So.): 6-of-8 FGs, 20-of-20 XPs
PR Markell Pack: 18 punt returns, 96 yards
KR Jaylen Walton: 18 kickoff returns, 384 yards
