Ole Miss Rebels Defense Listed Among ESPN's College Football Future Power Rankings

The Ole Miss Rebels defense is beginning to gain some respect within national circles.

Ole Miss Rebels defensive coordinator Pete Golding / Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Pete Golding's arrival as the defensive coordinator of the Ole Miss Rebels has helped boost program perception over the last year-plus, and he gained another feather in his cap on Tuesday.

It was then that ESPN released its future college football power rankings for defenses, and the Rebels made the list, coming in at No. 19. Although that's not an elite spot, it shows that the opinion of the Ole Miss defense is improving, especially after an aggressive attack in the transfer portal this offseason.

You can view an excerpt from the piece below.

"After a No. 9 AP finish and a Peach Bowl championship, Ole Miss is targeting its first CFP appearance. A major offseason push in the transfer portal yielded several upgrades for the defense, including lineman Walter Nolen from Texas A&M, ESPN's top-rated recruit in 2022, edge Princely Umanmielen (Florida), linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (Arkansas) and safety Yam Banks (South Alabama)."

Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (left) and defensive coordinator Pete Golding. / Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

The story goes on to note the improvements that Golding has made in the world of prep recruiting at Ole Miss, signing some ESPN 300 players in Kam Franklin and Jeffery Rush.

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Make no mistake: the offense will still be the headlining attraction for the Rebels entering the 2024 season, as is often the case with Lane Kiffin-led teams. But Golding's efforts both in the portal and the recruiting trail have made a big difference in what Ole Miss' defense will look like this fall, and his prowess as an on-field coach only boosts that stock.

The Rebels are currently in the midst of spring practice, a time that will end on Saturday with the Grove Bowl Games, a series of seven-on-seven and skills competitions featuring Ole Miss players at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The games are set to begin at 3 p.m. CT, and they will be televised on SEC Network+.