Four Questions Lane Kiffin Should Expect at SEC Media Days

What areas are of interest for the Rebels head coach as he takes the stage on Thursday?

The Ole Miss Rebels are set to take the spotlight at SEC Media Days on Thursday with Lane Kiffin, Quinshon Judkins, Cedric Johnson and Deantre Prince scheduled to field questions from reporters.

Media Days are the official opening of "talking season" in the SEC, and even though kickoff is still over a month away in the conference, it is an annual sign that football is close. When Ole Miss begins its time on stage around 9:05 a.m. CT, what are some questions that head coach Lane Kiffin might expect from media in attendance? Here are four options that come to mind.

1. An update on the quarterback battle.

Many believe that Jaxson Dart may be pulling away in this competition, but if last season's battle is any indication, Kiffin will probably play his cards close to the chest when he is inevitably asked something on this topic. Still, the Ole Miss quarterback room is one of the most intriguing spots in the country for national and local media alike, so this one seems like a no-brainer.

2. Impact of Pete Golding on the Ole Miss defense.

Kiffin has raved about Golding's hire this offseason, but now that the 2023 campaign is approaching, how does the head coach feel about where his defense is ahead of fall camp? The general opinion around Lane Kiffin-coached teams is that the offense is always going to be strong, but can the defense follow?

3. Any number of questions on the wide receiver room.

Zakhari Franklin is becoming more and more a headlining piece for this unit, but the Rebels have a number of options for breakout years in the passing game. Regardless of who ends up taking snaps for Ole Miss, he should have plenty of weapons at his disposal.

4. Big-picture questions on NIL and the transfer portal.

Kiffin has not been shy about his utilization of the portal since he arrived in Oxford, so he could be asked about who, in his mind, will be an impact transfer this season. He has also repeatedly emphasized the importance of NIL in this new era of college athletics, and he is usually open to answering questions about it as well.

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