Three Position Battles to Focus on Ahead of Ole Miss Rebels 2023 Fall Camp
OXFORD, Miss. -- Following an offseason full of transfers and recruitment flips, Ole Miss Rebels coach Lane Kiffin has some difficult decisions to make when it comes to the order of his roster.
With the college football season starting in 50 days, we inch closer and closer to Ole Miss' 2023 fall camp, where the Rebels will be forced to decide their unresolved position battles. Kiffin hit the NCAA Transfer Portal hard this year, bringing in 25 commits and the No. 6 portal class in the country. While Kiffin did fill positions of need (defensive line and receiver) he also brought in players to bring competition to certain positions.
These are the three position battles I believe Ole Miss fans need to keep an eye on during fall camp next month.
Quarterback
Let's get the big one out of the way.
The topic of the offseason has been the quarterback position, as Kiffin recruited former transfers Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State) and Walker Howard (LSU) to compete with the incumbent starter, Jaxson Dart. Sanders is the most experienced signal caller of the group, and the senior elected to spend his final year of eligibility competing for the opportunity to start at Ole Miss. Howard still has four years remaining of eligibility, and despite a productive showing at the 2023 Grove Bowl, will likely be shelved for 2024 barring any unforeseen circumstances.
There will also be a freshman signal caller joining the mix this fall. Four-star quarterback Austin Simmons flipped from Florida to Ole Miss in June and reclassified to the 2023 cycle thanks to a nifty 5.34 GPA which allows him to enroll this summer at Ole Miss.
Kiffin has a difficult decision to make regarding the most important position on the field. To me, this battle is between Dart and Sanders, and I have the former being named the victor. Dart posited improved pocket awareness and mechanics while only recording one interception throughout the entirety of spring practices. While Sanders' mobility is intriguing and has the potential to be a headache for defenses when lining up next to Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, I believe the better passer will get the nod.
Linebacker
The Ole Miss defense is now under the leadership of former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Pete Golding and he will have to decide which two linebackers will captain the middle of his defense this fall. Golding's scheme utilizes two linebackers and they play a crucial role in his defense. Entering fall camp, there are five linebackers I expect to be competing for playing time including seniors Khari Coleman, Ashanti Cistrunk, Monty Montgomery, Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, and true freshman Suntarine Perkins.
Coleman and Cistrunk return for the 2023 campaign after combing for 114 total tackles, 13.5 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks with the Rebels last fall. Montgomery and Jean-Baptiste transferred to Ole Miss this offseason after spending the last four seasons with the Louisville Cardinals and UCF Knights, respectively. Montgomery is undersized at 5-11, 225-pounds, but he packs a punch, as he recorded 70 total tackles, six sacks, and four forced fumbles with the Cardinals in 2022. Jean-Baptiste notched 52 total tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble last fall for UCF.
Perkins is the crown jewel of Ole Miss' 2023 recruitment class and was the only five-star of the group. Before making his commitment with the Rebels official, Perkins was being courted by Alabama and its previous defensive coordinator, Golding, who will get his wish to coach the uber-talented linebacker. Perkins was rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Mississippi and the No. 1 linebacker in the 2023 cycle.
Offensive Line
The key departures from this group are offensive linemen Nick Broeker and Mason Brooks, who are currently giving the NFL a shot with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders, respectively. Replacing Broeker will be no easy task, as the former Rebel did not allow a sack in 472 pass-blocking reps from his spot at left guard last fall. Kiffin went to the portal this offseason to find veterans ready to compete for the now-vacant left guard position.
Senior offensive linemen Quincy McGee and Victor Curne make up the transfers competing for snaps this fall. Mcgee is a people mover at 6-foot-4, 345-pounds, and will likely compete for both guard positions during fall camp. Curne, 6-3, 320-pounds, started at right tackle for the Washington Huskies from 2020-21 and has the capabilities to play every position on the offensive line, with the exception of center.
I expect returning senior Caleb Warren to hold down the center position, with sophomores Jayden Williams and Micha Pettus starting at left and right tackle, respectively. Senior Jeremy James has the versatility to play both right tackle and right guard and will certainly be in the mix for snaps. Junior Eli Acker is another interior lineman who could see time at both guard positions.
Former four-star recruit Brycen Sanders will be the true freshman to look out for along the offensive line. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound offensive lineman was the No. 6 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee in the 2023 cycle and can play both guard and tackle.
You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.
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