Time For Ole Miss Rebels to Consider Ulysses Bentley as RB1?

Ole Miss Rebels running back Ulysses Bentley led the team in rushing yards versus the Arkansas Razorbacks despite finishing second on the team in carries.

OXFORD, Miss. -- It was not pretty by any means, but the No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels outlasted the Arkansas Razorbacks 27-20 in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium thanks to a stellar showing from the defense.

Ole Miss' offense, on the other hand, had an incredibly hard time driving up and down the field versus Arkansas. The Rebels have struggled to find the happy medium between playing good offense and defense this season. To the Rebels' defense, however, Arkansas always plays hard versus Ole Miss and the officiating stifled the offense more than a handful of times. 

But that does not change the fact that Ole Miss' rushing attack was stagnant for three quarters of football. The Rebels finished the game with 196 total rushing yards, but that was because the team surged for 104 total rushing yards in the fourth quarter to help put the game away. 

Leading the charge for Ole Miss' ground game was senior Ulysses Bentley, who recorded 94 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. "Doo" led the Rebels in rushing yards despite getting five fewer carries than Quinshon Judkins, who has not looked like the tailback he was a season ago when he led the SEC in rushing as a true freshman.

Ole Miss running back Ulysses Bentley celebrates in the endzone against the LSU Tigers (2023) / Carleigh Harbin-The Grove Report

After the battle versus Arkansas, Judkins has now only surpassed 100 rushing yards once this entire season. Judkins has struggled to get to the second level of the defense and has displayed questionable vision at times. Bentley, however, was able to spark Ole Miss' offense versus Arkansas with his incredible speed and shifty feet. He has now rushed for at least 90 yards and one touchdown in two straight games.

With all that being said, is it time to move Bentley to starting tailback? 

Let me be clear, this is not supposed to be a slam piece on Judkins. I still believe he is one of the most talented runners in college football, but I believe the Rebels need to switch things up for a game or two to help get this offense on a more consistent track.

Blocking is not the issue, as Bentley was able to find space versus Arkansas, he just has another gear that Judkins does not. Bentley is currently averaging 7.4 yards per carry compared to Judkins' 4.1. 

Judkins is the bell cow back of the Ole Miss offense, but Bentley has the hot hand right now, and he should be getting fed the ball.